'It's the perfect tribute': Ronan Kanda memorial Peace Garden opens in Wolverhampton with his family and friends speaking of their painful loss

Ronan Kanda was only 16 when he was brutally murdered only yards away from his home on Mount Road, Lanesfield, Wolverhampton, when he was fatally stabbed by Prabjeet Veadhesa and Suckman Shergill in June 2022. 

Ronan died in a case of mistaken identity. Both killers, Veadhesa and Shergill, who were aged 16 at the time, were jailed for 18 years and 16 years respectively. 

Since the attack, Ronan's mother, Pooja Kanda, has been tirelessly campaigning against knife crime and tighter restrictions on knife sales, with Ronan's Law - set up in the name of the murdered teen - making the sale of 'ninja swords' illegal.

Now, Ronan's former school, The Khalsa Academy Wolverhampton, on Millfields Road, has unveiled a memorial garden erected in his name, marking it as a place for students to remember their former classmate, and think about their community. 

Talking at the unveiling event, Pooja Kanda said: "It's a really lovely memorial garden.

"It includes a lot of flowers that have colours that he liked. It's really nice to know that there is something here as a tribute to him."

The garden was built with the help of Ronan's school friends and students at the school, with donations coming from across the community. 

Ms Kanda, who was also awarded an OBE for her work in tackling knife crime, said: "It's so important that when something like this happens when someone loses a child, that we come together to show our support. It's so very important.

"Students will now be able to sit here and remember Ronan, and know that there was someone called Ronan who lost his life. It's very important to remember. It's the perfect tribute."

At the unveiling were also Mark and Beverley Brindley, who lost their own son to knife crime, James, in 2017 after he was fatally stabbed through the heart. They have also been campaigning against knife crime.

Mark Brindley said: "This garden is very symbolic. The words and the poem that was chosen for the plaque in particular are incredibly poignant and appropriate, not just for this garden, but for life in general really.

"Doing something constructive, like this garden, as a community, It's a unique way of getting people to talk about a subject matter that isn't the nicest. It takes society to turn this problem around."

Headteacher at the Khalsa Academy Wolverhampton, Mr Sukhdev Shoker, said that the garden has been a 'labour of love' and that Ronan's fellow students, as well as the community, have played a big role. 

He said: "The garden is fantastic. It really is a labour of love. Our staff and students have put a lot of into it, which shows what he meant. 

"Our music teacher is also an avid gardener, so he carefully chose flowers and trees to plant. It's been a real team and community effort.

"It's horrible that it happened, but we are also so proud and honoured to be a part of doing this and what it stands for.

"The garden will be a place that we will see grow as the children do. It will also be a place where we can come to reflect and enjoy nature and spend a bit of time thinking about people we have lost."

The plaque reads as follows: 

'In memory of those we have loved and lost. This garden serves as a beacon of solace and reflection for every heart touched by loss. 

'Here, amidst the gentle embrace of nature, we honour the vibrant spirits of all those who have departed from our lives, yet remain in our thoughts.

'May this peaceful sanctuary provide comfort, inspire reflection and strengthen our collective spirit. It is a place where love echoes, memories bloom, and connection endures. 

'Find solace, find strength, and remember always.'