Sylvia Lancaster, who campaigned for years against hate crime after daughter Sophie was murdered, has died.
A statement published on the Sophie Lancaster Foundation website confirmed the news.
‘It is with great shock and disbelief that we announce that Sylvia Lancaster has passed away,’ it read.
‘She died early this morning in Blackburn hospital. She had suffered from ill health for the last couple of years, but her death was sudden and unexpected.
‘Sylvia had such a powerful life force; we cannot imagine a world without her in it.’
Sylvia set up the Sophie Lancaster Foundation in her daughter’s name and received an OBE in recognition of her work.
Sophie Lancaster, 20, was kicked to death for looking like a goth in Lancashire in 2007, while her boyfriend was badly beaten.
She died in hospital 13 days after the attack.
Sylvia campaigned for years following Sophie’s death, and even worked closely with Coronation Street last year on a storyline inspired by what happened to her daughter.
The narrative saw characters Nina Lucas (Mollie Gallagher), who is a goth, and boyfriend Seb Franklin (Harry Visinoni) set upon by a group of thugs in a violent hate crime.
Seb died several days later as a result of his injuries.
‘[Viewers] need to see the reality behind the story, which I think Coronation Street are particularly good at’ Sylvia said at a press event for the ITV soap last year.
Sylvia, you see, had been involved in the development of Nina’s character since she was first introduced back in 2019, and explained that she loved seeing fans become attached to her.
‘It was lovely to speak to Mollie [Gallagher] and to actually see that she’s quite alternative in real life when she’s not playing Nina. But what I thought interestingly was that people have taken Nina to their hearts and that’s obviously lovely to see.’
‘Because people are looking behind the image, they’re looking behind the clothes and they’re seeing the person, which is a massive part of the work that we’re doing, trying to get people to see that underneath all of this, they’re just the same people as you or I.
‘And that is really important.’
Coronation Street’s hate-crime storyline received acclaim, and the show would go on to win severals awards in the months that followed.
Carys Serries, who was attacked for dressing like a ‘goth’, similarly praised the soap for raising awareness on the subject.
‘When Sophie Lancaster was murdered I was just 11 but I remember being really sad and seeing the wristbands sold in her memory,’ she wrote. ‘I actually helped organise a charity gig two years ago, raising £670 for the Sophie Lancaster Foundation.
‘It’s great that Coronation Street is shining a light on the discrimination against people who dress like ‘goths’ – I cringe at the label – because it’s rife.’
Following news of Sylvia’s death, Corrie star Mollie paid tribute to her, calling her an ‘incredible woman’.
‘Absolutely devastating news,’ she wrote on Twitter. ‘My heart goes out to all of Sylvia’s family. A truly inspiring woman who has made a huge impact from all of the incredible things she has done.’
Former Coronation Street actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, who played Hayley Cropper, said: ‘It was a privilege to know and work alongside Sylvia over many years.
‘She was a force for good, for inclusion, for celebration of difference. Sophie’s incredible legacy lives on in the work of the foundation. Love and thoughts to Adam & the family. Rest in power incredible woman.’
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