Following the violent deaths of their children and experiencing a profound need to bring something good and positive out of something bad, affected families have come together to make a difference.

E tenebris lux. From the darkness (comes) light.

ANDRE | ANDREW | BEN | DAMILOLA | DAVID | JASON | JIMMY
JOHNSON | KIYAN | KODJO | LLOYD | ROB

Rob’s Story

21st August 1989 – 24th May 2008  (18 years old when taken)

Rob was born on the 21st August 1989 in Chatham, Kent. He was the 1st son of Sally & Colin Knox and a much loved brother to Jamie Knox. His grandparents are Arthur (deceased) & Maggie Knox

His first school was Swingate Infants School – Lordswood

The family moved to Chislehurst when Rob was aged 5 years old and then he attended Redhill Primary School (Chislehurst). After he had finished primary school he then went on to Kemnal Manor Technical School until he was a 13. He then left that school and passed an entry exam to get into BETHS grammar school -  Bexley. where he stayed on to take his GCSE’s & ‘A’ levels

He found the love of acting at a very young age. He attended D&B theatre school nr Bromley. He had been in many productions, but his big break came when he landed the part of ‘Marcus Belby’ in the Harry Potter’s film ‘The Half Blood Prince‘

OUT OF THE DARKNESS COMES LIGHT

The Rob Knox Foundation

We have now registered the Rob Knox Foundation as a registered Charity.

The aims of the foundation are:

  • To advance the education of young people on the subject of Citizen ship ( including street violence)
  • To advance in life and help young people develop their skills and capacities, who wish to or are already participating in the Arts (including theatre, film and television)

We have already supported the following causes

  • Charlton Athletic’s ‘Campaign against Street Violence’ by donating to the funding of education packs and training of coaches and players to support these in schools
  • Purchase of a voting system for schools where pupils can answer questions anonymously and the findings can be used to update police
  • A £1,000 donation to the Witness Service at the Old Bailey to purchase new  appliances for the Witness kitchen
  • Funding towards the film ‘Cold Kiss’  – a short firm about knife violence starring Ray Winstone with Rob’s brother Jamie also having a part
  • Funding for the training of New Street Pastors for the local Town Centres.
  • Full  Bursary for three year course at D & B Theatre School of performing Arts in Bromley

Mandatory Minimum Custodial Sentence

We, the parents of Rob Knox, went calling on the Prime minister at No 10 to call for change to make our streets, & loved ones safer.

We feel that stiffer sentences need to be put in place to halt the senseless carrying of knives. There is no need to carry a knife about you when walking the streets of the UK.  A knife is a weapon, & weapons should not be allowed to be carried, & ultimately used.

What we are seeking for is a minimum six months mandatory custodial sentence for anyone carrying a knife in public.

We were fortunate enough to have had  a chance to speak, in private, with both Prime Minister Gordon Brown and  Home Secretary Alan Johnson on what we are seeking. There has also been a letter given to both Ministers explaining, in brief, our ideas for what we think would be a solution to the problem of knife carrying in this country.

We need to send out a very clear and strong message to those people that carry knives. Saying that, if you carry a knife you will be taken off the streets where you can do no harm to others, or even threaten anyone else by the use of a knife.

The custodial sentence that we are calling for is there, first and foremost, as a deterrent to those would be knife carriers. Should anyone then be stupid enough to carry about their person  a knife in public, then they must pay the price for carrying out a stupid and dangerous act.

Life is so precious, our main priority should be to preserve it.

Let us now ask you  three very important  questions. Then after answering the questions you can see how you scored with the answers.

  1. Would you be happy for one of your offspring to go to a club, walk the streets or even use public transport knowing that the person next to them could be carrying a knife ? (5 points for a ‘No’ answer)
  2. Would you be very upset and angry if you found out that one of your offspring had just been threatened with a knife ? (5 points for a ‘Yes’ answer)
  3. Would you like to receive a phone call in the early hours of the morning from the police, informing you that your child had just been stabbed to death – murdered? (5 points for a ‘No’ answer)

If you scored 15, then you are a caring person that wants to rid the streets of violence, knife & gun crime.

There is something you can do about it. Support the campaign for a mandatory minimum custodial sentence and help to make our streets a safer place for ALL. To do nothing at all is far worse than doing something badly.

Here is one more question:

What is the difference between a ‘Knife Carrier’ and a ‘Murderer’ . . . The answer is simple . . . .JUST A SPLIT SECOND OF MADNESS !!

Thanks for your Support…it means a lot!

We, the family of Rob Knox, would like to thank their family, friends, Rob’s friends & well wishers for all the kind words that they have expressed. The  letters, emails & cards that you have all sent to us were in their hundreds. They have all meant a great deal to our family, and they have helped to give us the strength to carry on. Thank you too for the very beautiful flowers & donations which were made to the Rob Knox  memorial fund.

To arrange a visit from a member of Families Utd please contact us via contact us

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