Heavy metal acts' tribute to Bacup teenager Sophie Lancaster (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Heavy metal acts' tribute to Bacup teenager Sophie Lancaster

9:00pm Monday 13th August 2012 in Rossendale By Chris Adams

Sophie Lancaster died in 2007

TRIBUTES by heavy metal acts were paid tribute to a murdered Bacup teenager at a festival this weekend on the fifth anniversary of her attack.

The Sophie Lancaster Stage at Bloodstock Open Air in Derbyshire saw the giants of the hard rock world pay their respects.

Sophie’s mother Sylvia was also present with The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, the Haslingden-based charity she formed to help combat hate crime in the aftermath of her daughter’s death.

On August 11, 2007, Sophie and her boyfriend Robert Maltby were the victims of a savage attack in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, because the couple were dressed as goths.

She died 13 days later from her appalling injuries.

Many of the bands at the festival, which attracts up to 12,000 metal fans, signed a limited edition Marshall amplifier which the Foundation will now auction off later this year.

The campaign manager Kate Conboy-Greenwood said the next fortnight was very much a time for reflection for everyone who is connected to the family of Sophie.

She said: “We’re very proud of what we’ve achieved.

“Tackling prejudice and raising awareness of hate crime.

“At every festival the Foundation attends, we get young people thanking us for supporting them and making them feel safer, which is really important for us.”

Last year Sophie’s stage featured Beholder, whose song ‘Never Take Us Down’ is the charity’s official single.

The Sophie Foundation, together with the Burnley musician Iain Broadley, have now put together a special all-ages event in Sophie’s memory which is now being scheduled to take place at Burnley Central Library on September 1.