Sylvia Lancaster lost her daughter simply because she was different. Her child Sophie merely stood out from the crowd, with black and red dreadlocked hair and 'goth'-like clothing.
But it was the very way that she looked that led her to be brutally murdered when innocently walking home with her boyfriend in Bacup in 2007. She had become the target of a horrendous mob attack by a gang - for just being herself.
The 20-year-old was kicked to death for being a goth in Stubbylee Park. It was a heinous crime that shook the nation, but spurred on her mother Sylvia to use her grief as passion to strive for change.
READ MORE Sophie Lancaster's mum Sylvia has died weeks after one of her daughter's killers was freed
It was as she sat beside her daughter in hospital, gazing on her relying on a life support machine before it was turned off two weeks after the attack, that Sylvia decided she wanted to make a difference. Her mission was clear - she wanted to stamp out prejudice and hatred across the world.
Tributes poured in after the defiant campaigner tragically passed away suddenly in hospital on April 12 following years suffering with her health. She leaves behind an unparalleled legacy that saw her spearhead a lengthy battle for justice, freedom of expression and individuality.
She had a tirelessly fought against the judicial system and had devoted her life to a foundation in Sophie's name, promoting tolerance and acceptance of all walks of life. Striving on in the shadow of her daughter’s tragic death, the Sophie Lancaster Foundation, headed by Sylvia, worked hard to visit schools to speak with youths about Sophie’s story.
The 'formidable' mum had seen first-hand the abuse and prejudice that her daughter had been subjected to, just because of how she looked. Sophie and boyfriend Robert had been beaten so badly that when paramedics arrived they could not tell if the pair were male or female.
Throughout her work, Sylvia campaigned to change hate crime legislation to incorporate attacks upon alternatives and was also a member of the independent Hate Crime Advisory Board. Her mission didn't stop there - spending years trailing the country with the Foundation and educating those in schools, prisons and universities with a message of 'love and light'.
It was her defiant efforts that led her to receiving an OBE in 2014. Sylvia had previously worked with young offenders before her only daughter's life was brought to a horrific end. She later helped Coronation Street construct a story on the killing in May 2021.
In more recent times, Sylvia spoke out about finding it 'difficult' that one of the very men who took her daughter from her, was to be released from prison after having his sentence cut short. Ryan Herbert was 16 when he was jailed for life in 2008 and ordered to serve a minimum of 16 years in prison but his sentence was later reduced to 14 and a half years on appeal.
She said: “Once again we have a justice system that fails to deliver justice. However much progress people make in prison, they have been given their sentence in recognition of the extent of their crime. However they have progressed, the minimum justice for the family is them serving the sentence they were given. Her attackers may not have been given a life sentence, but I have."
A statement from the foundation announcing Sylvia's sudden death on April 12, read: "This is the hardest statement to write. It is with great shock and disbelief that we announce that Sylvia Lancaster has passed away. Sylvia had such a powerful life force; we cannot imagine a world without her in it.
"Following Sophie’s brutal murder, Sylvia put her energy into championing people from alternative subcultures and creating educational programmes to tackle prejudice and intolerance.
"Sylvia was formidable. She challenged authority and fought for what she believed in. Her legacy is that Sophie will never be forgotten, and her daughter’s name will always represent her mission – to Stamp Out Prejudice, Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere. She will be sadly missed."
