Grandmother Julie Taylor has devoted her life to fundraising for life-saving bleed control kits in Maldon and all over Essex, raising £33,000 in three years.

Since Julie's 19-year-old grandson Liam was stabbed to death outside a pub in Writtle in January 2020, she has worked to provide more than 170 critical bleed kits.

According to Essex's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC), the kits have saved the lives of four people in the last eight months.

Each public-access specialist first aid kit costs £102 to supply. There are 11 in Maldon alone. They are also carried by the Army and air ambulance crews.

Julie told Nub News: "Every venue should have one, as you can bleed out in three minutes. It's that quick from a catastrophic bleed."

Three and a half years since Liam's death, Julie spoke at the Essex PFCC Partnership conference on June 23. The event was held at Colchester's Jobserve Community Stadium and aimed to raise further awareness of the kits.

The anti-knife crime campaigner explained how her family has suffered following the death of her beloved grandson.

Julie said: "I watched his murder on CCTV in court. Liam was outside the pub in the smoking area with his best friend when the car pulled in. It took 39 seconds for them to drive in."

The attack lasted 13 seconds. Liam was stabbed six times, twice through the heart and twice through the lower back, damaging his lung and liver. He also had 28 separate injuries.

advertisement

"All I could think was how terrified he was," Julie continued.

"The perpetrators may be in prison, but we as a family are serving a life sentence. It has broken our family. I am nearly 60 and have lived three of his lives. I am never going to see him get married, he will never give me great-grandchildren."

Julie vows to continue working to provide these lifesaving kits wherever they are needed. The £33,000 raised has also provided two defibrillators and several 24-hour accessible cabinets.

"I have been supported by family, friends, Braintree Lions Club, Witham and Maldon SWANS, and The Rotary Club, Women's Institute, and Chelsea FC among others," Julie added.

In March, Heybridge Residents Association (HRA) raised £416 for Liam Taylor Legacy through a fish & chip fundraiser.

Any donations are gratefully accepted. For more information, visit the Liam Taylor Legacy Facebook page.

Read more

• Maldon District: 200 new homes in Tollesbury, 160 Latchingdon homes refused, 'flood risk' solar farm refused, and nine more planning applications near you
• READER'S LETTER: A former Emporium employee shares fond memories of the Maldon High Street shop
• Maldon Town Mayor's artworks to be auctioned at fundraising Steam Tug Brent exhibition in St Mary's Church