Brianna Ghey: A community tribute to the teen taken too soon

Brianna Ghey was just 16 years old - she had not even had the chance to sit her GCSE exams before she was murdered.

She was from Birchwood, and attended Birchwood High School, and her body was found in Culcheth Linear Park on Saturday, February 11, after she was stabbed to death.

Brianna was a pupil at Birchwood High School (Image: Cheshire Police)

I have been the community reporter for Culcheth and Birchwood since March last year, when I joined the Warrington Guardian.

In that time, I've met residents, business owners, councillors, MPs, teachers, emergency service workers, students, and more.

Every single one of those people has been hit by the news of the tragic loss of Brianna at the weekend.

Over the 11 months that I've been getting to know the area, it has struck me how welcoming, warm, friendly, and considerate the people of Birchwood and Culcheth have been towards me, and toward one another.

That's why, when I first caught word from a member of the public that a body had been found in Culcheth, I was in a state of disbelief.

Much like the rest of Warrington, my heart broke when hearing the victim was a teenager; it shattered completely when it was confirmed the victim was a 16-year-old: Brianna.

Floral tributes have been left at Culcheth Linear Park (Image: Newsquest)

In the short time since Brianna was cruelly snatched from her family and friends, it has been heartening to see the communities of Culcheth and Birchwood rally around and stand together; the area mourning the loss of someone most of the residents did not know.

As an honorary member of the communities of Culcheth and Birchwood, seeing how many tributes have been paid to Brianna really shines a light on the fact that she embodied everything valued by the residents.

Brianna was kind, warm, funny, and one-of-a-kind, according to the tribute released by her family.

I can think of no other adjectives to describe the people of Culcheth and Birchwood in their attitudes toward one another; they are compassionate, caring, witty, and generous.

Brianna, although only a child, was a testament to the area in which she lived, studied, and grew up.

It is difficult to see the photographs released of Brianna, they remind us that she was a young girl - a child - killed before being able to fully live her life.

Brianna's body was found at 3.13pm on Saturday, February 11 (Image: Newsquest)

I started this tribute with a stark, blunt sentence: "A child was killed in Culcheth over the weekend."

Nobody in Culcheth and Birchwood will forget that a child was murdered here.

Nobody will forget that the area should have been safe for her.

Nobody will forget the warmth, humour, and kindness that she radiated in her short life.

Nobody will forget Brianna Ghey.