by Angela Cole

acole@thekmgroup.co.uk

Stonemasons who built and secretly maintained the memorial to south London teenager Stephen Lawrence for more than 15 years were among hundreds of politicians and dignitaries invited to the memorial service to mark the 20th anniversary of his death.
Carol Newton, whose husband Gordon runs the Stone Shop in East Farleigh, and daughter Elaine Cobb, attended the service at St Martin in the Fields Church in London on Monday, which was also attended by Prime Minister David Cameron, London Mayor Boris Johnson and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe.
Stephen was stabbed to death at a bus stop in 1993 by a gang of white youths in a racially motivated attack.
Mr Newton said the shop had regilded and cleaned the memorial ahead of the service.
“I drew the short straw and had to man the shop, but my wife and daughter went and they said it was a very memorable day,” he said.
"We were invited as we keep in touch with Doreen Lawrence, Stephen’s mother. There have been other services, but this was a significant one as it was the 20th anniversary.
“We regilded the memorial with 23 carat gold, as we thought the family would want to visit there on the day.”