The Croydon community came together on Friday 27 September to honour the memory of Elianne Andam, a 15-year-old girl who was the tragic victim of knife crime as she made her way to school last year, on the one-year anniversary of her death.
A mural was unveiled during the event to commemorate Elianne’s life, featuring a portrait of Elianne alongside ceramic tiles engraved with adjectives her loved ones used to describe her. The mural was produced by Alec Saunders, a local artist and is located outside the Whitgift Shopping centre, on Wellesley Road.
The mural space also features a bench that was once used by Elianne and her friends, provided by Old Palace School, Elianne’s school, complete with a stone plaque, carved by local stonemason Ivan Cudby, a wall plaque featuring Elianne’s photograph and message from her family and planters of wildflower seeding.
Denzil Larbi, Elianne’s cousin and Minister of West Croydon Baptist Church, read a personal statement about Elianne at the event. He said, “Elianne’s brutal murder has shattered our family, leaving us struggling to navigate a world without her. Tragically, we are not alone. Over the past year, countless other families have been forced to endure the same unbearable loss as knife crime continues to devastate communities. Our children — whether they’re walking to school, heading home, going to a dance class, or simply playing in the park — deserve better.”
He went on to say, “Despite our anguish, one truth remains clear: Elianne’s memory will endure, living on in all of us. Her spirit, her joy, and her compassion are woven into the fabric of our lives, every single day. Today, we’re not just here to mourn her absence—we’re here to celebrate her life. A life that touched us deeply and in ways that will stay with us forever.”
