Cemetery bench installed in memory of Chadwell Heath stabbing victim Ricky Hayden

A memorial bench has been placed in Forest Park Cemetery to remember stabbed Chadwell Heath bouncer Ricky Hayden (Image: Archant)

The tribute to Ricky Hayden, from Chadwell Heath is in the grounds of Forest Park Cemetery and Crematorium in Forest Road, Hainault.

The 27, year-old, who worked at Kosho in South Street, Romford, was attacked outside his home in Gibbfield Close, on September 13 last year.

Grieving mum Sue Hedges, 50, said the family are preparing the ground surrounding the bench to create a place for friends of Ricky to feel closer to him and will let people know when the site is ready for visitors.

“We don’t want it to be a place only family visit,” she said. “We want it to be a place everybody who knew him can visit.

“There are so many people that want to remember Ricky and we thought this was a fitting tribute.”

The granite bench is engraved with a message that describes her son as “the brightest star in the sky”.

The bench, which cost about £8,000, was paid for using donations raised by wellwishers on crowd-funding site justgiving.com and a memorial club night at Kosho, which raised £7,500 just five days after his death.

Sue, who collected Ricky’s ashes on Wednesday, June 7, said she was touched by the support shown for her family since his death.

She joined Ricky’s dad Paul Hayden along with his sister April Hayden and brother Perry Hayden to lay the ashes to rest with the bench on Monday, June 12.

Tommy Roome, 19, of Rams Grove, Chadwell Heath, and Tarrell Hinds, 20, of Rodney Road, Southwark, have both been charged with murder and attempted murder after Ricky’s dad Paul Hayden, 55, was also injured in the attack.

Kevin Malamba, 19, of Manford Cross in Hainault, is charged with perverting the course of justice.

All three will stand trial at the Old Bailey on June 19.