Julia James: Pictures from dog walk tribute events for murdered PCSO being held in Kent and across the UK
Published: 12:10, 23 May 2021
Updated: 12:21, 25 May 2021
The daughter of murdered PCSO Julia James has thanked those who took part in more than 130 walks in her memory across the UK and overseas.
Pictures have flooded into social media today showing touching moments witnessed in Kent, England and even across the globe as people went out for a dog walk as the mass tribute.
KMTV report on a day to remember Julia James
Julia's daughter, Bethan Coles, posted on Facebook: "I just want to thank each and every one of you for walking in memory of my mum today.
"As a family we are absolutely overwhelmed by the scale of the support and love shown by you all; it really does give us comfort."
Julia's cousin, Samantha Griffin, joined around 100 walkers in Ashford this afternoon and wrote: "Thank you to everyone that joined me today, to remember my cousin #juliajames here in Ashford, Kent
"Over 100 of you and many furry friends joined our rain free walk.
"Thank you to Kent Police for joining us at the Bandstand
"It was a tough walk for me, but Julia would have been so humbled by all of your kindness."
Organisers confirmed there are at least 137 'peaceful' tributes which have been attended by those moved by the mum-of-two's tragic death.
Julia had been walking her Jack Russell, Toby, when she was killed.
Today people brought their dogs along as a way of showing Julia was in their thoughts. Many of the pets wore blue ribbons on their collars and leads.
Blue has become a symbol of the Justice for Julia movement.
In Kent, walks have taken place in Aylesham, Canterbury, Ashford, Hythe, Dover, Whitstable, and Deal.
In Aylesham, the nearest village to Snowdown where Julia lived, police officers and PCSO colleagues bowed their heads for a silence. Julia was well known in Aylesham and several of her family members live there.
Walkers set off earlier today
Today people have been sharing their pictures of their walks. Above a group picture in Aylesham, the post read: "For our lovely neighbour Julia. Never forgotten. Snowdown walk."
Julia, 53, was found dead with serious head injuries by Ackholt Wood in Snowdown, near Canterbury, shortly after 4pm on April 27.
Callum Wheeler, 21, from nearby Aylesham, has since been charged with her murder and is due to go on trial on November 29.
Sally-Anne Bedford, a dog owner from Cheshire who frequently walks alone with her dog in wooded areas, came up with the idea of carrying out a walk in Julia's memory.
Mrs Bedford says she, like many others, felt Mrs James' death did not appear to incite the same level of national outrage as was caused by that of 33-year-old Sarah Everard, who was killed after walking home through south London on March 4.
Her idea for a dog walk in Julia's memory began with messages to a few friends in Cheshire. It has snowballed so much that the idea has been taken up by people overseas in USA, Canada, Spain, Lanzarote, Italy, Austria, New Zealand and Oman.
Aylesham resident Emma Bennett helped organise the village's walk this morning. She said: "We're walking so her memory will never be forgotten.
"I didn't know Julia personally, but I live in Aylesham and it's a community coming together to show the family support.
"Aylesham is a really great community and everyone helps each other out. It's great the community has come together at a really, really sad time."
She said that while people "don't tend to walk out by themselves any more", there are walking groups available within Aylesham, and she praised the police for helping to make residents feel safe.
"Everyone should feel safe in their own community," she added.
Among walkers in Aylesham today was Zoe, who described the event as "heartwarming".
She said: "Obviously the tragedy - for a small community - it has really shaken us all.
"We're too frightened to take our dogs out alone. So I think this is the whole village coming to stand united, to show that actually we're not going to be beaten back by this tragedy.
"Whoever's organised this is just phenomenal, and it just shows there's a lot of people out there with support and compassion - and support for [Julia's] family and friends too.
"Hopefully they'll get a little bit of comfort from this as well today, as hard as it's going to be for them."
Ashley-Louise Harris was also at today's walk in Aylesham.
She said: "This never should have happened, and it was a massive shock to hear it. But it's so good to see so many people come together to raise awareness.
"It's very warming to see everybody come together and be there for Julia's family and everybody that knew her.
"We're still going to walk our dogs, and we shouldn't have to be scared to go out alone."
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Mary Graham