Skip to content

Mother of murdered Sophie Lancaster and hate crime campaigner dies

PA Sylvia LancasterPA
Sylvia Lancaster was presented her OBE by the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace

A woman who campaigned against hate crime after her daughter was murdered because she was dressed as a Goth has died, her charity has said.

Sophie Lancaster, 20, and her boyfriend were attacked by teenage boys in a park in Bacup, Lancashire, in 2007.

Her mother Sylvia founded the Sophie Lancaster Foundation and was appointed an OBE for her campaign work.

Actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, who played Sylvia in a BBC Two drama of Sophie's story, said she was "incredible".

Sophie died 13 days after being beaten by Herbert and Brendan Harris as she tried to protect Robert Maltby from the attack in Stubbylee Park.

Her death inspired a Coronation Street storyline on hate crime.

PA Media Sophie LancasterPA Media
Sophie Lancaster, 20, died in hospital 13 days after she was attacked in 2007

The Sophie Lancaster Foundation tweeted: "It is with great shock we announce that Sylvia Lancaster passed away early this morning.

"She had suffered from ill health in recent years, but her death was unexpected.

"Sylvia had such a powerful life force; we cannot imagine a world without her in it."

It described her as "formidable" and said "her legacy is that Sophie will never be forgotten".

The foundation added she would be "sadly missed".

Julie Hesmondhalgh playing Sylvia Lancaster
Julie Hesmondhalgh described Sylvia Lancaster as an "incredible woman"

Former Coronation Street actress Hesmondhalgh, who played Sylvia in BBC Two's Black Roses: The Killing of Sophie Lancaster, tweeted it was "a privilege to know and work alongside Sylvia".

"She was a force for good, for inclusion, for celebration of difference," she added.

Presentational grey line

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to [email protected]