Giant Artworks Commemorate Old Trafford Teens Left: Kelly Brown and the mural ‘A Better Tomorrow Together We Stand’ in memory of her son Rhamero West by artist Amy Coney
Kelly says that the completion of the artwork has brought her comfort and that she now feels more at ease when she walks past the place where her son was attacked. “I used to fear going on to Norton Street,” she said, “reliving everything that happened, but now I find a little peace and comfort. “It shows me how amazing the community of Old Trafford is. After what happened to Mero, the communities have really come together.
Inspirational murals have been painted to commemorate two Old Trafford teenagers who lost their lives last year.
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ocal people worked with professional artists to create the duo of colourful designs, which have appeared on a couple’s end terrace and on the wall of a residential home.
“So many people have supported me, but in particular I want to mention Caron, Kate, Maggie, Riz, Mustafa and Yousef.” The artwork is accompanied by a piece of spoken word poetry by knife crime campaigner Quinton Green, who Kelly reached out to after the attack. “Quinton Green is amazing for putting together the spoken word for me,” Kelly said. “He really means every word that he speaks for my baby boy.”
The first, on the outside of Norton Street care home, tags the location where 16-year-old Rhamero West was fatally stabbed in September 2021. The second mural, on a residential property on the corner of Howarth and Prestage Streets, remembers a local 18-year-old who died in a police chase in May that year.
Homeowners Caroline Harleaux and Lee Andrews approached OT Creative Space to ask for a colourful mural to be created on the side wall of their end terrace. The gable end had become a target for graffiti after the nearby death of an Old Trafford teenager in a police chase and the pair felt an artwork would be a more fitting tribute.
The pair of artworks are new additions to the OT Art Trail, which was launched by community project OT Creative Space last year. They were funded by a Standing Together grant from Trafford Council.
The psychedelic-inspired mural, called Can I Kick It?, features bees, rainbows, butterflies and two cats having a friendly kickabout, all painted in bright pastel shades. It was painted by Manchester muralist and children’s book illustrator Melanie Williamson.
Creation of the first mural, called A Better TomorrowTogether We Stand, was overseen by Kelly Brown, mother of 16-year-old knife crime victim Rhamero, known as Mero. Kelly and members of the Old Trafford community worked with Whalley Range artist Amy Coney to produce the design. And at the last minute, Kelly decided to clamber up on a crane to spray paint the purple heart that represents her son herself. She said: “I knew I wanted a memorial to Mero and I couldn’t have asked for anything better than this. “Amy has incorporated everything that I asked for: the circle represents my son and also the sun in the sky. The purple heart, which I sprayed myself, is also Mero. “It’s beautiful, absolutely breathtaking. You have got to see it in person. Pictures don’t do it justice.”
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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE
Above: Lynda Sterling outside OT Creative Space
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