WHILE there will be no formal event to mark the 29th anniversary of the IRA bomb attack on Warrington on March 20, 1993, which claimed the lives of Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball, plans are being formulated for a special event next year.
Meanwhile family will gather together privately this coming Sunday, March 20,to remember Tim in life as the vibrant, smiling 12-year-old he always was and always will be and to credit his life and Johnathan’s as “the catalysts for the Peace Process in Northern Ireland.”
Peace campaigner Colin Parry, who along with his wife Wendy, helped create the Peace Centre as a legacy to the boys said: “Their sacrifice was not in vain.
“2023 will be a different and special anniversary as it will mark 30 years since the IRA killed and injured so many innocent people on Mothers Day 1993.
“We hope for a huge turnout by the people of this special town to show it is a community as well as a great town.”
Tim and Johnathan, both died as a result of the IRA bomb attack in Warrington town centre, when bombs were placed in two litter bins on Sankey Street. It followed on from a previous attack on the town’s gas works by the IRA.
While Johnathan, was killed by the blast, Tim died several days later in hospital with his family by his side, as his parents agreed to the heart-breaking decision to have his life support machine turned off.
More than 50 shoppers were also injured, some seriously, including young mother Bronwen Vickers, who lost a leg and later died as a result of her injuries.
The atrocity proved to be a major turning point in the troubles in Northern Ireland, helping lead to the Good Friday agreement.
While peace bridges were “built” between Warrington and Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland, Colin and Wendy along with political, community and religious leaders, worked tirelessly, to help create the Peace centre, home of the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace, as a legacy to the boys and all those impacted by the bombing.
Anyone who would like to support the ongoing work of the foundation, can do so by CLICKING HERE
The Bridge Street memorial
