Comedian Lenny Henry tells Paddy Shennan why it will be an honour for him to attend the Anthony Walker Foundation Gala Dinner. LENNY Henry is nearing the end of a major nationwide tour, but none of his 49 shows will hold as much significance, resonance or poignancy as a date he has in Liverpool next month. On Thursday, April 26, the comedian and charity campaigner will present a worthy winner with the Anthony Walker Citizenship Trophy. Awarded for the first time last year, it is designed to help keep alive the memory of the Huyton teenager, who was murdered in 2005. This year’s accolade will go to another young person in Merseyside who has made an outstanding contribution in their own community. “I feel so honoured to have been asked,” says Lenny, who will also make a speech during the Anthony Walker Foundation Gala Dinner – held in association with Winning Women – at the Adelphi hotel. “Anything which helps keep Anthony’s name and memory alive has to be a good thing.” As well as recognising it as a tremendous honour, Lenny knows it is also a tremendous responsibility – but he is determined to do Anthony’s family proud, saying: “It can be difficult to know what to say on occasions like this, but I want to be respectful and say something which comes from the heart. “What happened to Anthony – and his family – was such an awful, awful thing. It was incredibly sad, and it was also a shameful indictment of our society, that something like this can still be happening in the 21st century. “I remember reading about it at the time and watching the reports on the TV. It was just a shock. I recall Anthony’s mum (Gee), saying at the time it had echoes of the Stephen Lawrence case, which it did.” Lenny adds: “There are racist crimes going on today, together with all manner of violent crimes in cities across the country and people have to be extra vigilant. “It is terrible that these things are still happening today, but we don’t want to go back to what it was like in the 1970s – an era which out of necessity gave rise to movements like Rock Against Racism.” The law-abiding majority, many of whom feel society is on the brink of breaking down, continues to look for answers – from somewhere, anywhere – and Lenny says: “It comes to something when you are asking a comedian these questions. “People need to get their MPs in a room to look at this. There needs to be some kind of cross-party initiative to help stamp out racist attacks. “I also think education has to start in the home – we live in a multicultural age and people ought to be culturally aware. It starts with kids. If we can teach kids about multiculturalism – and kids are very open – maybe we’ll have more hope for the future.” Regarding those who feel like throwing their hands in the air and giving up, he says: “People have to have a bit of hope. It starts with YOU and then, if you can find like-minded individuals, you will have more hope and feel stronger – and you won’t be getting bogged down in a negative spiral. “There are always going to be one or two dickheads and, in the end, they have to be re-educated or ignored.” The first winner of the Anthony Walker Citizenship Trophy was Lauren Irwin, now 18, of Childwall, who was recognised for her work teaching children about bullying. This year’s prize will go to another young person in Merseyside who has made an outstanding contribution in their own community and Lenny says: “It’s wonderful that the good things young people are doing in their neighbourhoods are being highlighted in this way and I will feel honoured to be part of it all. “Occasions like this, which I am so happy to support, make you feel humanity has a lot to offer.” | 
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