Mum of James Quigley to keep son's legacy alive in Norwich

Margaret Oakes received the devastating news that her 18-year-old son Raymond James Quigley, from Wymondham, had been stabbed by members of a rival gang in Ipswich town centre on January 17 last year.

The 53-year-old has since vowed to help put in measures which could save someone's life in the future with the introduction of bleed control kits, which were not available for her son.

The cabinet is a tribute to Mrs Oakes' son, Raymond James Quigley (Image: Margaret Oakes)

So on the eve of helping bring in the city's first bleed control cabinet and kit to Riverside Leisure Centre, Mrs Oakes hopes it helps the memory of her son live on.

She said: "I know I can't bring him home but this keeps me going and I'll never let his name leave this world - this helps keep his legacy alive.

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"James never leaves my mind or my heart which is why I've chosen to do this and make sure his death isn't in vain.

The bleed control cabinet will be introduced to Riverside Leisure Centre on Saturday (Image: Margaret Oakes)

"If this kit can save someone's life then it makes it all the effort worth it - people tried to get rid of his name from this world - but I won't ever let that happen while I'm breathing.

"They can help save anyone suffering from any sort of bleed out - not just those caused by stabbing."

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The cabinet will be installed at Riverside Leisure Centre on Saturday, in tribute to Mr Quigley and will be the first bleed control kit in the city.

Margaret Oakes said the kits can help save anyone suffering from any sort of bleed out (Image: Margaret Oakes)

"It's all come together quite quickly,” added Mrs Oakes.

"There was a gap during the trial because I just wasn't able to cope with everything at that point.

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"After the first kit went in Kett's Pub in Wymondham this is now the first bleed control cabinet and it's going up in the city."

List of contents included in the bleed control kit (Image: Margaret Oakes)

Teens were found guilty

Alfie Hammett and Joshua Howell, both from the Ipswich area and aged 19 at the time of their trial, were arrested on January 21, 2023, four days after Mr Quigley was stabbed.

The prosecution told Ipswich Crown Court that Hammett attacked Mr Quigley while Howell wielded a machete to provide an "intimidating presence", preventing any of the friends Mr Quigley was with from intervening.

Both denied murder and possession of a weapon in a public place but were both found guilty of all charges on January 26 this year.

Raymond James Quigley was stabbed to death in Ipswich on January 17 (Image: Suffolk Constabulary)

Hammett and Howell were wearing face masks and had their hoods up at the time of the attack, before Howell chased one of Mr Quigley's friends at knifepoint into the nearby branch of JD Sports, allowing Hammett to kill Mr Quigley.

The defence, on behalf of Hammett, stressed the defendant’s young age and urged the judge to consider the limited ability of a teenager to maturely evaluate consequences - while the defence for Howell said he didn't know the victim at all.

Despite this Alfie Hammett was handed a minimum jail sentence of 24 years for stabbing Mr Quigley while Howell was given a minimum sentence of 20 years.

Alfie Hammett and Joshua Howell were given a minimum of 24 and 20 year sentences, respectively, for the death of Raymond James Quigley (Image: Archant)