As the solemn notes of Amazing Grace were played by a piper wearing traditional Scottish dress, Preston's Flag Market fell silent to remember the helpless toddler who was cruelly abused by the two men who had been tasked with protecting him.
Vigil for Preston Davey
Preston Davey died on July 27 in 2023 after being taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital by his adopted dads Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley. The 13-month-old had been placed with the couple just four months earlier.
Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley were this week found guilty of a combined 29 offences following a six-week trial at Preston Crown Court. Former teacher Varley was convicted of murdering Preston, along with a string of neglect and sexual abuse charges, while McGowan-Fazakerley was found guilty of allowing the death of a child, sexual assault and child cruelty. They will be sentenced on Thursday (June 18).
This evening crowds gathered in Preston's Flag Market for a candle-lit vigil with organiser Niamh Cardwell-Clarke saying she had felt compelled to 'do something' to mark what would have been Preston's fourth birthday.
'When I was following the case it really did touch my heart when I read the details; it brought me to tears,' the mum-of-three said. 'I was really struggling to get him off my mind so I felt compelled; we need to do something for him, whether it's a balloon release. I put a video on social media to get a feel for it and that's when I came to the conclusion to do the vigil.'
'I've emphasised that it's not about [Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley]; it's about Preston and remembering him for the beautiful little boy he was. He would have been turning four-years-old today had he not been placed in the care of those two monsters.'
Flowers and tributes were laid at the vigil. Janet, from Preston, was one of several parents who brought their children to the vigil. She said what Preston had gone through was 'absolutely disgusting'.
'We've read about it while it's been going on in court,' Janet said. 'It's such a shame what baby Preston's gone through. Today would have been his fourth birthday. It's horrific; learning everything he was put through, it's just absolutely disgusting and he didn't deserve that.'
Another mum, from Leyland, struggled to speak as she explained why she had brought her young daughter to the vigil. 'I've got a little one who was the same age as Preston and the thought of my little baby going through anything like that is absolutely heart-breaking,' she said. 'These people were in a position of trust; I don't know what sort of world we're living in now. I'm scared for the future of my own children. I wish I could have been the person that adopted Preston.'
Preston's biological dad, Gary Nolan, also attended the vigil and said: 'My son should be alive on his birthday.'
Many of those who joined in a minute's silence for Preston took the opportunity to light a candle in his memory. Some cried as they looked at the teddies and read the tributes left at the vigil.
One Preston pensioner said: 'I don't know all the details of the case but someone at my church said this vigil was happening and I just wanted to come to pay my respects. Babies and young children rely on us to protect them and to think that two people who had been tasked with looking after this little boy could harm him is incomprehensible.'
