Lily’s memory carved in stone

Stonemason Christian Hague, who added Lily’s name to the memorial

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THE grave of Failsworth murder victim Lily Lilley at last bears her name, thanks to the generosity of a group of local residents and Shaw stonemason Christian Hague.

A friend of the family made an appeal through the Chronicle for someone to pay for her name to be engraved on the headstone marking her grave and that of her husband, Jack. It is 15 years since the frail 71 year old widow was murdered by schoolgirls Lisa Healey, then 15, and Sarah Davey, 14.

The girls then took over Lily’s home, running up the phone bill and spending her pension on sweets and chocolates.

Lily’s remains were buried in Failsworth Cemetery, but her name was never added to the gravestone.

Her son John, who lives in Tasmania, made a plea in the Chronicle four years ago for help to tidy the plot and to add her name to the memorial.

Christian (33) who owns Memories Memorials in Rochdale Road, Shaw, volunteered and a group of Failsworth residents paid the bill.

Christian offered his £400 services free, and the group responsible for raising the cash wanted to remain unnamed.