Thought For The Day – Thursday 20^th April 2023

At TBSHS we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.   We are anti-racist.

Saturday 22nd April 2023 is National Stephen Lawrence Day.  Nearly thirty years ago, on 22nd April 1993, Stephen Lawrence, 18 years of age, was murdered in an evil racist attack by a gang, whilst he waited for a bus in London with his friend.

Doreen and Neville Lawrence, Stephen’s parents, campaigned for justice.  Significant and serious mistakes were made by some in the murder investigation, which Judge Sir William Macpherson said was “institutionally racist”.

Doreen Lawrence, now Baroness Lawrence,  Stephen’s mum, once visited TBSHS,  around  six  years after the murder of her son.  Unusually for our guest speakers, we had to meet Doreen at Liverpool Street Railway Station in London and accompany her on the train to, and from,  Bishop’s Stortford.  Maybe this was because Doreen did not know the way. Maybe Doreen felt she needed this extra safety and security in very, very challenging times for her family.  Doreen gave us a book about Stephen.

Laws changed because of Stephen’s death.  So much wonderful good has been done in his name since.  Stephen wanted to be in architect.  His legacy has been to design a better and more beautiful world.

The theme of Stephen Lawrence Day 2023 is ordinary can be extraordinary.