‘It’s changed but I can still feel it’: Eltham locals, 30 years after Stephen Lawrence’s murder | Stephen Lawrence

When Yumiko Takada, 43, moved to Eltham about a decade ago, she didn’t know why fresh flowers often surrounded a small roadside plaque.

She was shocked to find out later that this was the place where Stephen Lawrence died in a racist attack at the age of 18. “I saw the board, but I didn’t know the name. When I found out [about] it, I was shocked … It’s just wrong,” she said on Friday, a day before the 30th anniversary of his death.

Lawrence’s assassination and subsequent police investigation left a lasting mark on attitudes to race and policing in Britain. For some, the plaque serves as a reminder of the area’s ongoing racial tensions.

“Some people said back in 1993, ethnic [minority] people could not go to Eltham because of the threat [from white people]. It has changed, but I still feel it. Eltham, Welling are places I don’t like … there’s a shadow of that,” Takada said.

Julie Mawaei, 64, who is retired and has lived in Eltham for 26 years, said she was happy the plaque was there because it was part of the area’s history. “I was looking at him the other day and I thought it’s coming up, his anniversary,” she said. “People stop and stare.”

“It’s important to have a memorial plaque so people know what happened, that it’s not forgotten and shouldn’t happen again. We have this reminder,” she added, pointing to a granite square on the ground engraved with the dates of Lawrence’s birth and death.

Since Mavaei has lived in the area, she has noticed that it is becoming more diverse. “We still don’t have many black people. Whether it’s because they think Eltham is racist … it probably was,” she said.

“Is there more? I don’t think so. I think drugs are a bigger problem than racial hatred. I don’t see any racial hatred here, but I think some people do, and that’s why they don’t move here,” she added.

Denise Pearson, 54, said the incident rocked the area when it happened.

“[Where we live] it’s like a small village so it was quite shocking that something like this happened on our doorstep. It doesn’t matter what color your skin is, this shouldn’t happen to anyone,” she said.

Two local police stations have closed, and she said the police presence in the area has decreased. “Personally, I feel the support of the police. “I wouldn’t say there are any racist issues here.”

However, for other people, there is still a sense of dread. “I have nothing against the police and I don’t interact with them,” Takada said.

“I’m not very comfortable at Eltham, but I feel comfortable at Woolwich because it’s very mixed.”