Remembering Lee Rigby: Tragic Murder That Shook Woolwich
Lee Rigby, a Royal Fusiliers drummer, was brutally murdered in broad daylight in 2013 by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale. The vicious attack happened on a Woolwich street in southeast London. Lee was off-duty and dressed casually when the killers struck at random.
A Mother’s Agonising Decade
Lee’s mother, Lyn, has endured ten years of heartache. In the aftermath, she revealed how she “just wanted to die” to be with her son. But her four daughters and husband Ian stood as her lifeline.
“My husband Ian and my four daughters saved me from myself,” Lyn said. “They all formed a protective ring around me.”
She added, “As a family, we pulled through together, and I still don’t know how I’m still standing.”
The Lasting Void in the Rigby Family
Lyn says there will always be an empty chair at family gatherings. From birthdays and Christmas to Easter and summer barbecues, Lee’s absence is deeply felt.
Justice Served: Killers Sentenced to Life
During their 2014 trial, Adebolajo and Adebowale received life prison sentences for Lee’s murder. The attack was widely condemned as a betrayal of Islam.
Lee succumbed to multiple stab and cut wounds. The killers’ attempt to martyr him failed.
A bronze drum now stands in Lee’s honour, a lasting tribute to the fallen soldier.
