A year on from the Hillsborough Independent Panel report, Formby mum's legacy lives on Anne Williams became a national symbol of what can be achieved through passion, determination and a mother's love.
Diagnosed with terminal cancer shortly after the Panel's report was published, she fought on to see the original inquests into the deaths of her son Kevin and the 95 other victims quashed.
September 12, 2012 was a day of supreme vindication for Anne.
The Formby mum campaigned relentlessly for more than two decades to reveal the truth about Hillsborough after learning in 1991 that her 15-year-son Kevin was alive and could have been saved long after the highly contentious 3.15 cut-off point.
Dissatisfied with the public investigations, she went about conducting her own one, painstakingly tracking down the people who had tried to help her son on the day before working with some of the country's leading forensic pathologists to disprove the official verdict that none of the 96 could have been saved, also enlisting the help of top QC's to expose the changing of police statements and cover-up of information that had taken place.
After being part of the group of six bereaved families who challenged the accidental death verdicts via judicial review in 1993, Anne submitted two further memorials containing her growing files of evidence to the Attorney General requesting a new inquest for Kevin and even took his case to the European Court of Human Rights, where it was rejected in 2009 for being 'out of time'.
Fate intervened the month after the publication of the Independent Panel's report when she discovered she had terminal cancer but Anne vowed to battle on and was in attendance at the High Court just before Christmas to see the successful conclusion of her long mission to have the original inquest verdicts quashed.
She said afterwards, "It's been worth it. I was never going to give up. I know what happened to Kevin and I want them to put the record straight, call new witnesses and tell the jury what really went on."
Just weeks after another brave campaigner John Glover lost his fight against cancer, Anne confounded doctors' expectations to make it to Anfield for the 24th annual memorial service in April, where she again praised the bravery of survivors and all who had supported the cause, before passing away peacefully at her brother's home three days later.
The Bishop of Liverpool James Jones paid tribute to 'a woman of remarkable courage and determination' adding, "She had a strength and an energy that flowed from her love for Kevin. She will go down in history as one of the key people who brought to light the truth of the Hillsborough tragedy."
Her legacy has been felt as far away as Indonesia, where supporters during Liverpool's pre-season tour unveiled a flag in her honour which now flies on the Kop at Anfield, while an international charity football match in Anne's memory between Scouse Reds and Norwegian Wools will be played at the Liverpool County FA in Walton Hall Park on Sunday, September 22 (1.30pm BST kick-off) to raise funds for Queenscourt hospice, where Anne was cared for during her illness.
Anyone wishing to sponsor that event or donate prizes for the auction and raffles should contact Jason Morley at jmnw35234@blueyonder.co.uk.
Source: Liverpool Echo
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