IF ever there was a girl who was truly loved it was 15-year-old Elianne Andam.
She was a “beautiful soul” who “loved Jesus” and grew up surrounded by a large Christian family who were utterly devoted to her.
Elianne Andam, 15, was stabbed to death on Wednesday morningAFP
Darren FletcherHer mum Dorcas and dad Michael worked hard to give her a headstart in life[/caption]
Elianne was a keen gymnast, who liked doing her own hair and adored her little brother.
Her ultimate dream was to be a lawyer.
So her mum Dorcas, a specialist NHS nurse in child safeguarding, and dad Michael, a care home manager who holds a doctorate in Christian education, worked hard to give her a headstart in life.
If ever a family could be described as “good” it would surely be the Andams.
But tragically, on Wednesday morning, Elianne was stabbed on her way to school and died.
She had just got off a bus at 8.30am when the attack happened.
A court heard on Friday how she was chased by a masked teenager and stabbed in the neck after trying to take a bag off him containing her friend’s belongings.
She stepped in to protect her friend — a final act that embodies the values her parents taught her.
Now a 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder and possessing a kitchen knife in a public place without good reason.
It is one of the most tragic cases of knife crime this country has ever seen.
What happened to Elianne on her way to school, in broad daylight, is every parent’s worst nightmare.
And if it happened to me I don’t know how I could cope.
I am quite sure I would not have the same strength and bravery that her wonderful parents have shown.
On Thursday night they went with family and friends to the scene of the attack, embracing as they laid flowers on the spot where Elianne died.
They put out a statement saying their “hearts are broken” and they are “overwhelmed by sorrow and grief” but said that their “faith in the Lord” is strengthening them.
They added: “We would like to express our gratitude to those who have taken the time to send us thoughtful and compassionate messages and prayers.
“Elianne was a beautiful person inside and out who loved Jesus. She was intelligent, thoughtful, kind and had a bright future ahead.”
Wonderful parents
Not one word of hatred. Not one word about the terrifying rise in knife crime.
In London there have been 12,786 knife offences carried out in the year up to the end of March 2023 — a rise of 16 per cent.
This needs to stop.
Zombie knives, kitchen knives, pen knives, big and small — they can all be used to kill and nobody should be carrying them.
Sentences for possessing, and using, them need to be long enough so some youths think twice about it.
But firstly we all need to be decent and good parents, the kind that Dorcas and Michael clearly are, and speak to our own children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren about knife crime.
They need to know it is never, ever smart to carry a knife.
They need to know that Elianne could one day have been that brilliant lawyer who would have fought for justice if it had not been for a knife.
And they need to understand that they too could be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
If we don’t stop kids carrying knives, the school bus may become a thing of the past because we will all be too scared to let our children travel on them.
Being Jen out of ten is hard work
NOW we all know how Jennifer Aniston looks as good as she does.
In a recent interview, the Friends icon talked about how she stays trim and toned in her 50s.
Jennifer Aniston talked about how she stays trim and toned in her 50sGetty
“I drink a lot of water, move my body daily, try to eat whole, fresh foods and get as much sleep as I can,” she said.
“In addition to all of that, I try to be really mindful about what I let into my headspace.” Could it really be this simple?
If only.
I am guessing that probably translates to daily exercise, strict consumption control and very little alcohol.
She does look amazing. Enviable in many ways.
It’s ALMOST – but not quite – tempting to follow her lead.
Anne’s act of loyalty
R.I.P. to the absolutely brilliant actor Sir Michael Gambon.
And kudos to his wife Anne for her loyalty.
APR.I.P. to the absolutely brilliant actor Sir Michael Gambon[/caption]
Kudos to his wife Anne for her loyaltyRex
Michael and Anne were married for more than 60 years despite the fact he had a second family with set designer Philippa Hart, who was 25 years his junior and with whom he had two sons.
The Dumbledore actor split his time between the £5million home he shared with his wife in Gravesend, Kent, and another property in West London, where his other family lived.
Who knows what was going on behind the scenes.
But that smacks of extreme tolerance on the part of a long-suffering wife.
And it’s a thoroughly modern attitude, too.
Ladies, please
DO we really have to pick a side in the Eternal reunion row?
This week Louise Redknapp pulled out of an upcoming tour claiming her fellow band members Easther and Vernie Bennett would not play the LGBTQ+ dates because they believe that the gay community is being “hijacked” by the transgender community.
GettyLouise Redknapp pulled out of an upcoming Eternal reunion tour[/caption]
I guess everyone is entitled to their view, and it is important for us all to stand up for what we believe in.
But it seems to me like everything is being hijacked by some movement or another these days.
Can’t they just get the band back together and go out and play their hits to make everyone happy?
Is that really too much to ask?
I won’t do Mick on kids
IT’S interesting that Mick Jagger has hinted his share of the Rolling Stones back catalogue might go to charity instead of to his eight children, who, he says, “don’t need it”.
In a recent interview, the frontman said he had no plans to sell the band’s post-1971 catalogue.
ReutersMick Jagger hinted his share of the Rolling Stones back catalogue might go to charity[/caption]
He said: “The children don’t need $500million to live well. Come on.”
I find that admirable in many ways – but I do not relate.
Whatever I leave when I die will go to my children, and then if they decide they do not need it, they can give it to charity.
After all, half of it goes to the taxman, anyway.
AS if we didn’t have enough to worry about, a new “Frankenstein” opioid has hit the UK.
Nitazenes are estimated to be up to 40 times more potent than fentanyl.
It sounds both terrifying and lethal.
The synthetic drug, made in illegal labs and smuggled in from China, is cheap, addictive and blamed for a surge in overdoses and deaths.
We only need to look at the US to see how bad things can get.
We need to beef up import controls to stop more of this drug coming in before it’s too late.
Choc shock
IT’S depressing seeing chocolates removed from their boxes in a bid to stop shoplifters.
But Co-op has resorted to the extreme measure amid the cost-of-living crimewave.
Dummy packets of Ferrero Rocher and empty jars of Nescafe are now on display, while multipacks of John West tuna are being caged in security cases in some supermarkets to stop gangs from swiping products from shelves.
It’s a sorry state of affairs but I don’t blame Co-op.
They have to do whatever they have to do to protect their products.
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