A stonemason has spoken for the first time about his secret
commitment to keep murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence’s memory
alive.

Gordon Newton and his daughter Elaine Cobb have spent 15 years
repairing and tending to the stone plaque laid at the spot where
the teenager was killed in a racist attack in 1993.

But until now the unassuming pair have kept their constant task
- which they do without charge - completely quiet.

The jailing this week of Swanley man Gary Dobson, who will serve a minimum of 15 years and two months, and David Norris, who was sentenced to 14 years and three months, for the murder has prompted Mr Newton to talk about the constant vandalism Stephen’s memorial faces.

Mr Newton, who says he and his daughter will keep a lifelong
vigil of the site, first became involved after an original memorial
was destroyed in a hammer attack in 1996.

Sickened by what he saw on the news, Mr Newton contacted
Stephen’s parents Neville and Doreen and offered to provide a
replacement.

Mr Newton, from the Stone Shop in East Farleigh, said: “When we
saw it on the television we thought 'This is ridiculous.' We then
contacted the family and said we would replace it if they were
happy for us to do it.”

Since then Mr Newton and Mrs Cobb have faithfully maintained the
memorial, despite numerous counts of desecration.

“Over the years it has had all sorts of things done to it; it
has had paint poured in it and other things tipped on it,” said Mr
Newton.

Since the first major attack in 1996 it has been chipped and had
flammable liquid poured on it. The most recent attack involved a
man smashing a bottle over the memorial.

The memorial, surrounded by floral tributes, is now monitored by
CCTV 24 hours a day.

This led to Mrs Cobb being approached by police once as she
re-gilded it.

“I didn’t mind,” she said. “It goes to show they are looking out
for Stephen’s memorial.”

And such is the evil hatred targeted towards the memorial, a
police van has been parked alongside following the conviction of
Dobson and Norris.

Mr Newton said: “We will look after it for as long as we live.
It will always be maintained. It is a focus point for the whole
thing.”