A commemorative statue to Harry Potter actor Rob Knox will be unveiled in southeast London this weekend.
Knox was an English actor, who had roles in television shows including The Bill and After You’ve Gone.
His breakthrough acting role was in Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, the sixth instalment in the mega franchise based on the novel series by J.K. Rowling. Knox played the role of Hogwarts student Marcus Belby.
He was set to appear in its sequel Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – Part 1, but was tragically killed shortly after filming the Half-Blood Prince. He posthumously appears in the film, which was released in 2009.
Knox died aged 18 on May 24, 2008 after he was stabbed in Sidcup, South East London. He had been attempting to protect his younger brother, who had been threatened by a man armed with two kitchen knives.
Now, his family, close friends and colleagues will be attending a special memorial to the late actor, as a memorial in his honour will be unveiled. The event will take place on Saturday June 8 at 3pm at the Picturehouse Cinema in Bromley, and will be open to the public and free to attend. A small reception will be held after the unveiling.
Following Knox’s murder, his father Colin Knox set up the Rob Knox Foundation, along with the Rob Knox London Film Festival, which was established in 2009 with the aim to promote rising talent in the arts.
The Rob Knox Foundation also works closely with the Charlton Athletic Community Trust on the Street Violence Ruins Lives campaign, to help raise awareness about knife crime, anti-social behaviour and street violence.
Also attending the event will be the Festival’s co-directors, Aaron Truss and Alice Amata, who are set to announce the Festival’s “exciting” future plans.
Truss has said about the work achieved by both the Foundation and the Festival: “The Rob Knox Foundation and the Rob Knox London Film Festival are growing and we need to stay ahead of the current climate.”
He continued: “Knife crime is a scourge on our country and I am honoured to help keep flying Rob’s flag, to raise awareness and tackle this disease that’s senselessly killing young people. I hope Rob’s story can shine a light on this issue, his story is crucial more than ever.”
“Rob is a Bromley boy and it’s time he came home, this is what the 8th June is all about,” he added.
Later this year, there will be further commemorations of Rob’s life, also taking place in Bromley. On October 12th the Picturehouse is set to host a Q&A screening of the 2021 ITVX documentary (K)nox The Rob Knox Story, a film made about the actor’s family’s experience with grief, and their aims to reform street crime in the UK.
In attendance with the Festival’s co-director and Knox’s father will be BAFTA nominee Ray Winstone, a patron of the Foundation. Tickets to the event will go on sale on June 8.