The Blackpool Tower was illuminated in blue on Monday evening as roughly 150 people gathered on the seafront to mark three years since the death of 13‑month‑old Preston Davey.
Memorial draws people from across the UK
The vigil attracted mourners who had travelled from as far afield as Scotland, Kent and Wales to pay their respects. Those attending included Preston’s birth mother, Sarah Davey, and his father, Gary Nolan, who joined community members on the promenade to lay flowers, cards and children’s soft toys.
Organiser Jim McMillan said he arranged the event to honour a baby who he believes “died unnecessarily”. The gathering became emotional for many participants and required help from volunteers to coordinate.
“It’s got really big, bigger than I thought... I had to get a lot of help from a lot of people, I couldn't do it on my own.”
Context of the case
The vigil comes three years after Preston, who was 13 months old, died on 27 July 2023. His adoptive father, Jamie Varley, 37, received a whole life term after a court found he subjected the child to prolonged abuse and inflicted fatal injuries during a final sexual assault. Varley’s partner, John McGowan Fazakerley, was sentenced to 25 years for allowing the death of a child and for sexual offences.
Local reaction and significance
For many attendees the vigil provided a chance for collective remembrance and public expression of anger and sorrow. People placed toys and written messages on the promenade, while some who had personal experience of the care system spoke of the emotional impact of the case.
- Event: Memorial vigil on Blackpool promenade
- Attendance: Approximately 150 people
- Notable civic gesture: Blackpool Tower lit blue
The illumination of the Tower served as a visible symbol for the community and for visitors, highlighting the continuing public response to a case which drew widespread attention in 2023. The presence of the child’s parents and families travelling from across Britain underlined the lasting resonance of the tragedy.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date of death | 27 July 2023 |
| Vigil attendance | About 150 people |
| Sentences | Jamie Varley — whole life term; John McGowan Fazakerley — 25 years |
Those who organised and took part in the vigil said it was intended as a mark of respect and a reminder of the need to protect vulnerable children. The event appears to have provided a focal point for those seeking to remember Preston and to support his birth family on the anniversary.
Further community-led commemorations or support activities have not been announced publicly.
