Sculpture honours trailblazing mum of murdered man

Trailblazer Rosie Wall has been painted on a tansy beetle sculpture to honour her work in the Chapelfields community

A woman who set up a "safe space" for young people after her son was murdered has been painted on a sculpture by a local artist.

Rosie Wall was chosen as one of 17 "trailblazers" of York to feature on a sculpture trail around the city.

Her face now appears on a tansy beetle, a species of insect found in York, that has gone on display at Sanderson Community House in Acomb.

Mrs Wall has dedicated herself to youth work in the Chapelfields area since the death of her son Daniel in 2003.

Speaking to BBC Radio York, Mrs Wall explained that her passion for helping others had come from her mother as well as her experience of losing Daniel.

Drug dealer John Paul Marshall was jailed in 2004 for the murder of Daniel, 27, and Kevin Mulgrew, who were found dead in Marshall's flat above a Gillygate bakery.

"Dan was murdered in December 2003 and it was horrendous," she said.

"One of the things that kept me going was doing stuff for the community.

"It gave me something to rely on when I trying to get the grief away."

Daniel Wall, 27, was murdered in a bedsit in December 2003

Mrs Wall described her son as a "normal lad" and avid Liverpool FC fan.

"Then he got on the wrong track with the drugs scene and unfortunately somebody thought he was allowed to murder him," she said.

Although she struggled to remember the year after his death, Mrs Wall said the people of Chapelfields supported her by "just being there and acting normal".

She then chaired the local residents' association and was instrumental in setting up a youth centre.

Mrs Wall recalled the children confiding in her and liked to think her son would have benefitted from a similar programme.

"We would sit in a circle and they used to pour their hearts out to us about family members," Mrs Wall said.

"Not just about drugs but about anything. It was lovely that they trusted in us enough to be able to speak freely about that."

Artist Leo Morey painted the portrait of Mrs Wall, with his style inspired by his Cuban heritage

"I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, even if I’ve just helped people a little bit," she said, adding it was "amazing" to be one of 17 trailblazers.

Her portrait was painted by artist Leo Morey, whose style was influenced by his Cuban background.

The other sculptures, scattered across York, paid tribute to people such as Anne Lister and the Luddites.

The project was set up by Make It York and York Civic Trust, and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

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