After the senseless murder of Ashley Dale in August last year (2022), colleagues at Knowsley Council were keen to ensure her memory lived on and that they, and others, could have a place to go to remember their friend and colleague.
As a result, a memorial bench has been installed and a cherry blossom tree has been planted in Ashley’s honour at Court Hey Park in Huyton.
Councillor Graham Morgan, the Leader of Knowsley Council, commented: “Ashley’s tragic and senseless murder devastated her colleagues and friends here at the Council and sent shockwaves throughout our entire organisation. Ashley was a much-loved and respected colleague whose contribution to the Council and to Knowsley as a place was really valued during her life and has been greatly missed since her passing.
Ashley was a hard worker. She was dedicated and committed to her role and was developing a promising career – she had only recently been promoted just prior to her death. Her team misses her contribution, warmth and friendship greatly and her passing continues to be a great loss to this Council.
Even in those painful early weeks and months immediately following her death, her colleagues were determined to ensure that Ashley would not be forgotten, and we thought long and hard about ways to remember and commemorate her life.
As a result, we decided to plant a cherry blossom tree and installed a bench at Court Hey Park in Huyton – creating a focal point and place where colleagues, friends and loved ones could go to remember Ashley.
Whilst the pain of her passing still feels so raw for those who knew her best, her work community is determined that, despite the tragic events of 21 August 2022, Ashley will never be forgotten.”