The families of Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows came together this week to mark the 39th anniversary of their murder in Wild Park, in Moulsecoomb.
The two nine-year-olds were murdered by Russell Bishop in 1986 – but it took 32 years to bring the double killer to justice.
For many years, Karen and Nicky’s families would gather in Wild Park, near the spot where their bodies were found, to keep the case – known as the Babes in the Wood murders – in the public eye.
Now, the families quietly return to remember and reflect. They visited the girls’ graves on Thursday (9 October) before heading to the park on the edge of Brighton, close to where the young best friends lived.
They spoke about the settling of the land that has left their graves uneven – and of their hopes that a way can be found to deal with that.
Last month, they came back for the opening of a playground, newly refurbished by Brighton and Hove City Council.
As they arrived on Thursday, more than a dozen children were having fun on the new equipment there.
The families were joined by Karen’s other best friend Claire Shepherd.
They all spent their time nearer the now-closed café and its defunct public toilets, sharing the snacks and drinks and memories that they had brought with them and catching up on each other’s lives.
Passers-by stopped to tell them how they thought about the girls each time they came to the park.
The permanent memorial was brightened up with flowers, photographs, ribbons and fairly lights – and the families expressed gratitude to Oaklands, the local landscaping and patio firm behind some recent work there.
One of the messages among the various items of remembrance was headed: “39 years Nicola and Karen.”
It said: “We gather today as we do every year to remember you both. It doesn’t get any easier.
“We miss you so much. We will never forget you.
“As we brighten up your tree today, two families come together remembering our girls and the pain is still so raw.
“We will always remember your smiling faces, your funny humour, two best friends together forever. Love you always xxx.”
