Desecration of memorial to teenager in Wisbech sparks community outrage on social media

The grieving family of a young motorcyclist killed in a crash three years ago have been left horrified after vandals attacked a roadside memorial.

A shrine in memory of Jack Green, who died aged 19, has been at the site of the fatal crash since it happened at the junction of Churchill Road and Elm Road in Wisbech, in January 2022.

Now his family has been distraught to discover it has been desecrated in a vandal attack.

It is thought to have happened between 6pm and 8pm on Tuesday.

Jack’s grieving mum Natasha Chambers said she is devastated by the mess left by the vandals.

“This is not the first time but it is certainly the worst. We have had things stolen before, including a metal poppy that we put there because Jack was in the army cadets, and people have taken presents left there at Christmas time. This time they have just smashed everything, his lanterns, the photos everything has been broken and left strewn everywhere,” said Natasha, who is planning to tidy and reinstate the memorial this weekend.

She said the family visits the shrine weekly to maintain it, and to remember Jack.

“I know it is not where his body is, that is in Leverington and that is kept nice, but this is where he took his last breath and it is important to me and the family,” said Natasha, “It is heart breaking that someone can do this to someone’s child.”

She is also keen for people passing to remember Jack when they see the memorial and to realise how dangerous the junction can be.

“We have tried to get something done about the junction, it is dangerous. There have been at least 23 accidents there, including three major ones, and of course Jack’s, but we have been told not enough people have died there to make it necessary to do something,” added Natasha, “But we hope that seeing Jack’s memorial is a reminder that it is unsafe.”

She has been comforted by the support from the community following a post by the family on Facebook about the vandalism.

The post prompted an outpouring of anger from people with many offers of help in trying to track down the culprits.

Natasha said: “People have been checking their dashcams and looking at camera footage from their doorbells. It is amazing how many people have commented about the memorial and saying how they keep an eye on it and think of Jack. That has been a comfort.”

Many of the comments on Facebook were about the “vile” individuals, labelled “scumbags” by many, with all expressing shock that anyone could carry out such a “heartless” act.

One woman said: “I'm so sad to see this, vile behaviour is so overlooked every day now but for someone to utterly desecrate a space that is so important to a family is sickening, no gain to be had from it whatsoever. Someone must know or have seen something.”

Another said: “I came by this about 4pm today and was saying how nice it was with a lovely vase of flowers and gifts. Horrible to see it vandalised. Whoever has had any input by doing this, you should be very ashamed thinking of the family.”

Among the other posts was one from a mum who had also lost a son.

She said: “My heart goes out to his family, vandals did the exact same thing to my son’s. It's hard enough living without our children then having to put up with the heartache this causes, absolutely disgusting heartless behaviour.”

Another post read: “Why can’t scumbags just leave personal memorial places alone. What joy do they get from messing with people’s feelings when the love ones see this, God bless.”

Another said: “I'm truly so sorry to read this. I drive past quite frequently and always look at your son’s memorial place and think how it's so lovely and how it's being respected and left alone. Then I read this post..... it's absolutely shocking and very sad. I hope the vile individuals get their just deserts.”

In all there were nearly 200 comments of support, with everyone expressing their horror at what had happened and the hope the perpetrators are identified.