A HOST of famous faces including Sir Trevor McDonald and Beverley Knight have come together to pay tribute to Stephen Lawrence in a video marking six months until the annual day celebrating his life and legacy.

In the short film, titled Never Forget, around 50 celebrities and public figures are captured as poet Max Cyrus narrates a spoken word piece about Stephen’s life, his murder and its impact.

There are also references made to the George Floyd killing and the Windrush generation.

Jamal Edwards, Denise Lewis, Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Eddie Nestor and Judi Love are also among the high profile figures that appear in the video, which has been directed by Simon Frederick.

The film ends with Stephen’s mother, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, calling on viewers to “help us create a legacy of change” and highlighting how people can get involved.

The video is the first announcement from the newly formed Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, the organisation commemorating the teenager’s legacy, and comes 28 years after his murder.

Established at a time when there is growing global awareness of racial inequality, the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation aims to inspire a more equal, inclusive society, and to foster opportunities for marginalised young people in the UK. 

In a statement, Baroness Lawrence, who is also founder of the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, said: “The events of 2020: George Floyd’s death, and the subsequent resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, along with societal inequalities exposed and exacerbated by COVID has made us reflect how we engage with our communities. This brought a sharp focus on what I want to be achieved in Stephen’s name.

“I want Stephen Lawrence Day to be a reflective learning experience, and a celebration and a journey toward greater equality and inclusion for all.”

Stephen was just 18 years old when he was murdered in a racist attack while waiting for a bus in Eltham, south London. Two of his killers, Gary Dobson and David Norris, were convicted of murder in 2012 and jailed for life.

Stephen Lawrence Day was first celebrated in 2019 and takes place annually on 22 April, the date of Stephen’s death.