‘I'm making sure my son's legacy is one of love, not hate'

Anthony Walker, 18, was murdered in a horrific racist attack. Here, his mother Gee, a special needs teacher from Liverpool, opens up about how she turned her agony into compassion

- SANDRA WALSH

When my son Anthony was born, we planted a little apple tree in the garden to celebrate the birth of a precious son. All these years later, the tree dominates the garden, still bearing fruit which I give to friends and neighbours.

A friend has carved a heart into a tree stump in the garden and I often go and sit there alone to reflect on Anthony’s life. Memories of the perfect son whose smile lit up the room are never far from my thoughts. I try not to remember the circumstances of his vicious murder at the hands of racists.

Anthony was my fourth child of six and was born, like the others after, a series of devastating miscarriages. I’d prayed for children and I got what I asked for, each of them a gift from God. My marriage broke down and I was left to raise them alone. Although we didn’t have much, we embraced what we had, thankful to have a happy, loving family.

Anthony was wise beyond his years, stepping up to be the man of the house while still a teenager. He did the washing up, cleaning and babysitting without complaints.

He’d wait up for his sisters when they went out and if it was me going out, he’d hand me my cardigan, scarf and gloves, saying, “Here you go, Mum, you’ll need these.”

He was so thoughtful, the type of boy who would stand back from the queue to allow others to get on the bus in front of him, and he always gave up his seat.

As soon as he was old enough, he got a Saturday job and helped pay the bills, putting his first wages towards a new family car and popping money in my purse for lunch.

One of his main passions was basketball. He took his ball with him wherever he went. I’d often hear the ball bouncing in the street when he played with the other children.