Candlelit memorial walk will retrace last steps of murdered schoolgirl Claire Tiltman in Greenhithe
by Lizzie Massey
On the evening of January 18, 1993, Claire Tiltman was on
her way to her friend Vicki Atkins' house.
The pair were excited about the future and what life had in
store after their exams.
Exactly 20 years on, 36-year-old Vicki will tonight retrace
Claire's last walk as friends and supporters remember the girl they
knew as Tilt in Greenhithe.
As many people as possible are asked to take part - from 6pm
opposite The Bull in London Road, Horns Corss - bringing either a
candle or torch.
Recalling that fateful night, Vicki said: "Claire arranged to
come over in the evening to talk about what we were going to do
after our GCSEs. She was determined to be a firefighter but
couldn't join until she was 18.
"My mum had popped in to see her mum that day and offered Claire
a lift to our house, but she wasn't quite ready so said she'd
walk.
"If only she had accepted that lift; things would have been so
different."
Claire, who had celebrated her 16th birthday just days earlier
on January 14 was stabbed more than 40 times in an alleyway just
off the A226 London Road, Greenhithe.
Despite massive publicity, her killer has never been brought to
justice.
Friends Emma Edwards,
left, and Joanne Roberts will remember Claire Tiltman with a
candlelit walk
Sadly, Claire's mother Lin Tiltman died aged 56 in 2008 and her
father Cliff Tiltman died on September 14 last year. Claire was an
only child.
Vicki said: "I shut everything out at the time and I've only
recently been able to deal with it and remember all the wonderful
things about her.
"She wasn't a girly-girl, but she loved her jewellery and big
hoop earrings.
"She wasn't a goodie-two-shoes, but she was naturally clever and
she loved to read.
"Part of me thinks it's a bit of a dream for her killer to be
found, but the other part thinks how can they not be?
"I don't believe that a murder so public went completely
unnoticed.
"It was a vicious attack; the killer would have been covered in
blood when he left her. Somebody must have seen that."
Cliff Tiltman, the father
of Claire Tiltman, who died last year
Jo Roberts, 36, also went to school with Claire and remembers
her as somebody who could get along with anyone.
She said: "She had a wicked and dry sense of humour. She always
had us laughing.
"Now she's known because she was murdered and that's so hard to
accept when you remember her as such a vibrant character.
"I just want her murderer caught so we can move on and remember
her solely for the amazing person she was."
The walk will be followed by a service at St Mary's Church,
Greenhithe, at 7pm.
Prime Minster David Cameron joined the appeal for information
about the 20-year unsolved murder of schoolgirl Claire Tiltman.
The PM told MPs at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday that
the government will do ‘everything it can’ to support the Kent
Police murder investigation and called on the public to come
forward if they know anything.
Speaking after a question from Dartford MP Gareth Johnson, the
PM said: “It is a particularly tragic case because, as he says, the
parents of this girl have both died…of course we will do everything
we can but above all its for other people, anyone who knows
anything about this case, to talk to Kent Police.”
Anyone with information should call 01634 884010 or
Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Click here to print off a poster to carry
at the walk.
Click here to visit a
Justice for Claire website set up by
her friends.
17/01/13