Sign our petition as a second vigil will be held to remember murdered baby Preston Davey
“We learned a few things from the Preston city centre vigil about timings and format and I’ll suggest that the Blackpool event be slightly different, including some words from a church minister,”
It has been confirmed that St John’s Square in Blackpool will be the venue for a vigil in memory of baby Preston Davey later this month.
Blackpool Council confirmed the space opposite the resort’s Winter Gardens as the location for the event on Monday, July 27, which is set to start at 7pm, when the Blackpool Tower will be lit up in blue at the request of Preston’s birth mum Sarah Davey.
The date is the third anniversary of Preston’s death and the Blackpool vigil follows a similar event held in Preston city centre last month, attended by hundreds of people.
One of the organisers of that vigil, child abuse campaigner Dave Sharp, based in Northampton and who has followed the case closely, intends to liaise with local organiser Jim McMillan and has already arranged for a piper to attend the Blackpool vigil.
Dave is also hoping to arrange for a church minister to speak at the Blackpool event and is heading to the resort next week to invite donations of teddy bears and candles in local shops. The vigil is intended to be an evening of reflection for people to come to together to remember a baby murdered by the very person who was supposed to love him.
“We learned a few things from the Preston city centre vigil about timings and format and I’ll suggest that the Blackpool event be slightly different, including some words from a church minister,” said Dave, who was abused himself as a child. But it is all about remembering Preston and I hope as many people as possible will go along.”
Preston Davey was 13-months-old when he was murdered by the man who was in the process of adopting him. The man he came to know as ‘dad’. Ex-South Shore Academy teacher Jamie Varley, 37, was given a whole life sentence for murder, child cruelty, sexual offences and indecent images relating to Preston.
His now ex-partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was jailed for 25 years for allowing the death of a child, child cruelty and sexual assault.
Jim McMillan has said of the Blackpool vigil: “We don’t want any mention of his killers, it’s not a protest, no hate, no politics - there has been enough, this is purely for remembering Preston.”
Preston Davey deserved better
Preston Davey was just 13-months-old when he was murdered by the man who was in the process of adopting him. The man he came to know as ‘dad’.
In less than four months, little Preston was sexually assaulted, physically and emotionally abused, and left with 40 non-accidental injuries. He was taken to hospital three times. Social workers visited regularly. His abusers even admitted to having dark thoughts about him. And still, nothing stopped it.
Textiles teacher Varley, 37, will now spend the rest of life behind bars for his murder. His now ex-partner McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was locked up for 25 years for allowing the death of a child, child cruelty and sexual assault.
Fighting for Preston
Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as calls for a national public inquiry into the safeguarding failures which cost little Preston Davey his life are supported by nearly 115,000 people.
High-profile celebrities including Olivia Colman, David Morissey, Carrie Johnson, Ellie Goulding and Nicola Thorp joined forces with The Gazette, sister paper the Lancashire Post and Blackpool MP Chris Webb in writing to the Prime Minister calling for a national public inquiry into the 'catastrophic failure' to protect him.
The Gazette’s petition has so far been signed by more than 114,000 people, We want Sir Keir Starmer to set up a 'thorough and transparent' public national inquiry into the 'heartbreaking' series of missed opportunities to save defenceless little Preston.
Calling for urgent action, signatories including the wife of former PM Boris Johnson Carrie Johnson, global superstar Ellie Goulding, 39, and Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman, 52, say: 'The question that confronts us now is simple: how could this happen?'
The letter is also signed by Sherwood star David Morrissey, campaigner Paula Hudgell, adoptive mother of Tony Hudgell, who had both legs amputated after abuse by his birth parents as a baby as well high profile campaigner Hetti Barkwood-Nanton, Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge and Laura Trott MP Shadow Education Secretary.
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Preston Davey deserved better. Demand a national inquiry
What is the petition calling for?
- Why were repeated warning signs - three hospital admissions, an abuser's own admission of dark thoughts, routine social worker contact - not acted on?
- Should children placed outside their home authority automatically be assigned a local social worker with direct oversight of their care?
- How are repeat hospital admissions for children in care shared between the NHS, the placing authority, and the authority where the child lives?
- Are adoption vetting procedures rigorous enough to stop prospective adopters hiding behind a false front?
We need you to sign this petition and demand the government acts.