Wendy Parry awarded OBE for peace foundation

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Wendy Parry with husband Colin Credit: PA Images

Wendy Parry, who helped set up a peace foundation after her son Tim was murdered in the Warrington bombing, has been honoured with an OBE.

She has worked tirelessly with her husband Colin to ensure their 12-year-old boy and three-year-old victim Johnathan Ball were never forgotten and to help support victims of conflict.

Both were killed after two bombs placed in litter bins were detonated on Bridge Street, the main shopping street of the Cheshire town on March 20, 1993.

No warning was given and nobody has ever been prosecuted for the outrage, believed to be carried out by the IRA, which also left 56 people injured.

Tim Parry had gone shopping on that Saturday afternoon, looking for a card for Mothering Sunday the next day. He died in his father's arms in hospital.

Mrs Parry and her husband set up Foundation for Peace, now a national charity, to help support people harmed by political violence and terrorism to use their traumatic experiences to do something positive and to move forward with their lives.

The foundation also helps support young people to turn away from violence and work to build stronger communities without prejudice and discrimination.

Mrs Parry said: "I'm very proud and very honoured. Everything we have done in the past has been to keep Tim and Jonathan's names alive.

"This could be another thing that will help do that."

This year mark's the 20th anniversary of her son's death and a moving memorial service was held on Bridge Street earlier this year to mark the occasion.

Mrs Parry added: "It's been quite an emotional year for us. I don't know why 20 years makes a difference.

"It seems to have created a lot of publicity and a lot of people are thinking about what happened 20 years ago, so it's been quite emotional for us."

Colin Parry said of the award: "It is very, very well deserved and I'm delighted for her."

Mrs Parry will pick up her OBE at Buckingham Palace at a later date.

More information on the foundation can be found at www.foundation4peace.org.