When Yumiko Takada, 43, moved to Eltham around a decade ago, she did not know why fresh flowers often surrounded a small roadside memorial plaque.
She was shocked to later learn it was the spot where Stephen Lawrence had died in a racist attack at just 18. “I saw the plaque but I didn’t know the name. When I came to know [about] it, I was shocked … It’s just wrong,” she said on Friday, the day before the 30th anniversary of his death.
Lawrence’s killing and the subsequent police investigation left a lasting mark on attitudes to race and police relations in Britain. For some, the plaque serves as a reminder of the ever-present racial tensions in the area.
“Some people said back in ’93, ethnic [minority] people couldn’t walk in Eltham because of the threat [from white people]. It has changed but I can still feel it. Eltham, Welling – these are places that I am not comfortable with … there is a shadow of it,” Takada said.
Julie Mavaei, 64, who is retired and has lived in Eltham for 26 years, said she is happy the plaque is there because it is a part of the history of the area. “I looked at it the other day and thought it’s coming up, his anniversary,” she said. “People do stop and have a look.”
“It is important that the memorial plaque is there to let people know what happened and it’s not forgotten and it shouldn’t happen again. We’ve got this reminder,” she added, pointing at the granite square on the ground etched with the date Lawrence was born and died.
Since Mavaei has lived in the area, she has noticed it is becoming more diverse. “We still don’t get many black people settle. Whether it’s because they think Eltham’s racist … it probably was,” she said.
“Whether it still is? I don’t think it is. I think drugs are more of a problem than racial hatred. I don’t see any racial hatred here but I think some people do and that’s why they don’t move here,” she added.
Denise Pearson, 54, said the incident shook the area when it happened.
“[Where we live] is like a little village so it was quite shocking for something like that to happen on our doorstep. It doesn’t matter what colour your skin is, that shouldn’t happen to anybody,” she said.
The two local police stations have closed down, and she said police presence in the area has declined. “Personally, I feel supported by the police. ’Round here, I wouldn’t say there is any sort of racist issues.”
However, for other people, there is still a sense of fear. “I have nothing against the police and I don’t have interaction with them,” Takada said.
“I don’t feel very comfortable in Eltham but I feel comfortable in Woolwich because it is so mixed.”
