Horsforth stabbing: Tight-knit town united in grief

Officers were called to the Town Street area in Horsforth shortly before 3pm yesterday after they received a report a teenager had been assaulted and seriously injured.

Emergency services attended and the teenager was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

It was later confirmed he had sadly died, triggering a murder probe by West Yorkshire Police.

The teen has been named locally as Alfie Lewis. 

A sea of floral tributes and candles surround a bench on the green by Broadgate Lane.

The nickname ‘Alf’ has been spelled out with tea lights while a toy monkey and childhood photo have been left by loved ones.

Tributes to Alfie Lewis (Image: Newsquest)

It comes after family, friends, and strangers gathered together for a vigil at the bench - moments after Alfie's death was announced. 

The tragedy has left an entire community united in not just shock and grief, but love.

Reverend Nigel Sinclair, team rector at St Margaret’s Church, attended the vigil.

“The whole community is so touched by Alfie's death,” Rev Sinclair said. 

Inside St Margaret’s Church (Image: Newsquest)

“It’s a very tight-knit community in Horsforth so pretty much everybody knows somebody, relatives, friends, and everybody’s grieving this morning.”

Speaking about the vigil for Alfie, he said: “When I got there I found the young people with such dignity just remembering their friend. They had an incredible firework display, performed so safely, it was really quite staggering.

"They had the flower tributes and some candles. I was stood there, not knowing what to do or say, and this girl came up to me with a tea light and said 'would you like to light one of these?’.

“I thought wow, she’s doing my job, they are remembering their friend. The love that was around that green last night was so touching. People talk about the violence, all the anger around, but actually the same young people have got so much love and support for each other.

Quiet area in memory of Alfie Lewis at St Margaret’s Church (Image: Newsquest)

“It comes to the fore, people realise how much they do care for each other, how much people are loved. Young people often don’t realise just how much support and love there is for them.”

He added: “It’s really hard. Horsforth has been touched by tragedy before and it feels just like, why? Gosh, it’s us again. It’s really heavy for all involved. I was with some of the witnesses last night and the shock they’d had to face was just horrendous. People are asking, why us? Knife crime we know is everywhere and it’s such a terrible thing. You hear about it in other places but you never quite expect it on your doorstep.

FLORAL TRIBUTES: Notes in memory of Alfie Lewis (Image: Newsquest)

“We think of ourselves as a leafy, peaceful suburb but it just goes to show horrible events like this can happen anywhere and it’s a real issue to come to terms with.”

St Margaret’s has been a place of refuge for residents since 1883. 

Now, it is preparing to help the community through another emergency in Horsforth’s history.

A photo of Alfie - placed next to a glass cross and flickering candle - and book of remembrance are on offer.

St Margaret’s Church in Horsforth (Image: Newsquest)

A tree wrapped in fairy lights is also carrying butterfly-shaped tributes from loved ones.

Meanwhile, young people are being invited to represent their grief on a graffiti wall created by Rev. Sinclair’s daughters.

The reverend said: "The church is just here to offer what it can, the doors open, and people sometimes find that helpful to come. We’re just here trying to respond to needs within the community. 

“Church will be open throughout the rest of the week. We closed about 10 o'clock last night [Tuesday].”

Speaking about the power of faith in dark times, he said: “People’s faith is very different. Right across the community people are turning towards whatever is supportive for them.

"I was, as another anecdote, last night I was chatting to a young man. He was saying he isn’t a man of faith, he doesn’t believe in God, doesn’t come to church, but if he did he would pray.

"He believes that now his friend is in a better place. I just stood there and thought, you are praying, it might not be the same as mine but it’s there.”