Vigil held in U.K. for Vernon teen Ashley Wadsworth
Posted February 7, 2022 6:00 am.
Last Updated February 8, 2022 3:18 pm.
A sombre gathering in the U.K. over the weekend saw many pay their respects to a Vernon teen who was killed in a London suburb last week.
More than 150 people attended the vigil for 19-year-old Ashley Wadsworth on Saturday in Chelmsford.
Video taken of the vigil shows the group gathering outside a home, singing, and walking along the street. Many carried flowers and pictures of Wadsworth, while laterns lit a memorial outside the house.
“You’ve done amazing things for me. You did so much for your family. You always put us first,” a woman read from a statement from Ashley’s sister Hailey. “I’m so happy we were so close and grew up together and spent almost every day of our lives together… I love you so much. I’ll never stop missing you.”
The family says this has been an “unthinkable tragedy, and something that is not supposed to happen in real life.”
“Somehow though…a group of total strangers from across the world have managed to make an unbearable situation, just a little bit more bearable,” a statement from Ashley’s family sent to CityNews reads. “Our family will be forever grateful for this overwhelmingly touching act of kindness from across the world… We are so deeply touched by this gesture of support, kindess, and compassion. The world needs more people like this. Ashley was like this, so it reflects her so beautifully.”
Read more: Family of Vernon teen killed in U.K. remembers brave, adventurous woman
According to the BBC, some of Ashley’s family attended the vigil, as did some members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she worshipped.
The family says the vigil was organized by Linda Taylor, who lost her 18-year-old grandson two years ago just a block away from where Ashley was killed.
Ashley had moved to the U.K. a few months ago to be with her boyfriend.
First responders were called to a home in Chelmsford, Essex, at 4 p.m. on Feb. 1, where they found her in medical distress. Despite efforts to save her, she died on scene.
Her death has left the Okanagan community shaken.
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An online fundraiser has been set up for the family to assist in the expensive costs of bringing her body back to Canada.
The GoFundMe says it hopes to help the family with the “devastating heartbreak” following the death of the young woman who dreamed of becoming a lawyer.
“We are so thankful to everyone who is reaching out with condolences, thoughts, prayers, and donations to help us bring Ashley home,” the family’s statement reads. “There are several unforeseeable costs associated with the logistics of a tradgey like this happening in another country. It is important to our family that Ashley comes home and is layed to rest in the proper and most beautiful way.”
Ashley’s boyfriend, Jack Sepple, 23, has been charged with murder.
His next court date will be next month, according to local media reports.
With files from Denise Wong
