Emotional tribute to murdered Droitwich schoolboy Alfie Steele, 9
Dozens of people met in front of the bandstand for the special service
The community in Droitwich has come together to pay a touching tribute to murdered schoolboy Alfie Steele.
The nine-year-old was found dead at his home in 2021 after months of abuse, but dozens of locals joined in the Lido Park to pay their respects to him.
Rev Laura Handy, from the Saltway Team Ministry, led the service at the bandstand where members of the public, including Alfie’s family, held up blue hearts and brought blue teddy bears.
Addressing the crowd, where some people were crying and hugging each other, she said it was a time to remember Alfie as the wonderful, kind, funny and brave boy that he was.
“A little lad who had dreams of joining the army, who was so courageous at every step of the way,” she said.
A speech read out on behalf of Alfie’s grandad said: “Now it is time for us to heal all to heal.
“Alfie was loved very deeply by us and he was such a people's person. He would have loved the fact that you are here to say nice things about him because he loved being the centre of all the action.”
His mum Carla Scott, 35 of Vashon Drive in Droitwich, was jailed for 27 years for manslaughter and child cruelty offences, with her partner Dirk Howell. 41 and of Princip Street in Birmingham, was jailed for life.
During the six-week trial at Coventry Crown Court, the jury heard how neighbours had raised concerns over the treatment of Alfie and how he was “dunked” in a cold bath as part of a cruel and "sinister" regime of correction by Scott and Howell.
He was found with 50 injuries all over his body and a multi-agency review is now under way into the safeguarding of Alfie. West Mercia Police has also referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.