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He was here for a reason' Family vow to build on son's legacy

The Guardian

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August 09, 2025

On a cold morning at the start of February, the 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose got out of bed and dressed for school.

- Alexandra Topping

He was here for a reason' Family vow to build on son's legacy

On a cold morning at the start of February, the 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose got out of bed and dressed for school. He had not been for a while but had built himself up to it.

"He went: 'I'm going to school, Mum, are you proud of me?'," says Caroline Willgoose, nursing a cup of tea at her cousin's kitchen table. "I said: 'I am, love.' I followed him down and he said: 'I love you, Mum. Shut door behind me.'"

Hours later, Harvey was stabbed at All Saints Catholic high school in Sheffield. He was taken to hospital, but by the time his family arrived he was dead. Yesterday, a 15-year-old boy, who had pleaded guilty to Harvey's manslaughter, was found guilty of his murder. "He's killed Harvey, but he's killed us too," says Harvey's dad, Mark Willgoose.

Caroline says she feels no hate for her son's killer or for his parents. In an early hearing, she looked at him in court. "He just looked like a kid," she says. "And his parents have got an empty bedroom too, haven't they. He's ruined his life."

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