Winnie: ‘I want him back’

Photo: Picture: PAUL BARKER

SITTING tight . . . Winnie on board the helicopter flight

THE cheeky grin of Moors Murders victim Keith Bennett provided a poignant backdrop as his tearful mother paid tribute to him at a moving memorial.

Frail Winnie Johnson spoke at Manchester Cathedral during the hour–long service nearly 46 years after he died.

She lit a candle in front of a painting of her son based on the famous black and white photo of the smiling youngster wearing glasses.

“I’m Keith’s mother,” she said, breaking into tears, her loss still raw, even after all those years.

Pledging to “fight forever” to find him, she added: “He’s there on the moors, I want him back. I will still fight forever more until I find him.”

Police declared last July that, without significant new information coming to light, the search was at an end.

The ceremony began with Beatles song “Till There Was You”.

Keith was described as a cheerful child with a cheeky grin. He kept leaves in a scrapbook, collected coins, loved football and playing on his bike.

The 300-strong gathering included Oldham Mayor, Councillor Jim McArdle, who wiped tears from his eyes during the memorial.

He said afterwards: “It was a lovely service, as lovely as it could be. The tone was right and you could feel the sadness in the air.

“It must be unbearable what Winnie has gone through. I don’t know how she has kept going.”

Prayers were also said and candles lit for Brady and Hindley’s other victims Pauline Reade (16), John Kilbride (12), Lesley Ann Downey (10) and Edward Evans (17).

The Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, Bishop of Manchester, said: “The hills of Saddleworth Moor, for all their stark and awesome beauty, are the sombre backcloth for our act of memorial.

“Our words and worship lift us above and beyond to a Lord who, long ago upon another hill, had his life taken from him.

“Our Lord often spoke of his love of children: ‘Let them come to me,’ he said, ‘and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’

“And he didn’t mince his words about those who harm children — ‘truly, God is their judge.’”

Brady was given life in 1966 for the murders of John, Lesley Ann and Edward.

Hindley, who died in jail in November, 2002, aged 60, was convicted of killing Lesley Ann and Edward, and jailed for life.

In 1987 the pair finally admitted killing Keith and Pauline.

Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, also attended the service.

He gave Winnie a personal, hand–written note from Home Secretary Alan Johnson on behalf of all the MPs who have held the post since the murders.

“The message reflects the thanks from the people of this country,” he said.

“Winnie Johnson, in her grief and her campaign, reflects all that is great about motherhood.

“Ian Brady is rightly still incarcerated. We hope we can get a final conclusion to this that would give some comfort to Winnie but, as the Bishop said, there is evil.”



I’ll never give up in fight to find Keith

Ken Bennett
A kind-hearted helicopter pilot gave Winnie Johnson a poignant helicopter flight over a vast moor which hides her son.

Winnie’s trip over snow-stained Saddleworth moor came 24 hours after she had paid an emotional tribute to Keith Bennett at the Manchester Cathedral memorial service.

The 76-year-old made two 10-minute trips absorbing the killing grounds where the bodies of three other children murdered by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley had been discovered.

She was flown over the scene by Captain Chris Ruddy, boss of Diggle-based Pennine Helicopters.

Gazing down over the wild terrain, tinged with mist and drizzle, Winnie vowed: “One day we will find my Keith. I will never give up hope. ”

Winnie was accompanied on the flight by her friend, Norie Miles, who is helping her raise £20,000 for a special ground scanner to find Keith’s body.

Keith Bennett was 12 when he was snatched by Brady and Hindley in 1964 on his way to his grandmother’s house.

He was the third of the evil couple’s five victims. But unlike Pauline Reade, John Kilbride and Lesley Ann Downey and Edward Evans, his remains have never been found. Brady only confessed to Keith’s murder in 1987 but, despite heart-searching appeals from Winnie, he has refused to reveal where the boy’s body is buried.

Norie said the special scanner would help detect if earth had been disturbed and show gullies and underground hollows.

Oldham lawyer, John Ainley, a senior partner in North Ainley Halliwell solicitors, is representing Winnie.

He said: “Winnie is absolutely determined the hunt to find Keith will continue. I will support her in every way possible.”