The mother of murdered teenager Jamil Palmer has made an emotional plea on the anniversary of his death, as she urged young people not to carry knives.
Mr Palmer was just 18 when he was stabbed to death beside a playground in Crane Park, Hanworth , by 17-year-old Mohammed Barre in a row over wounded pride on May 6 2014.
His family and friends returned to the scene on the two-year anniversary of his killing to pay their respects to the "funny, caring" young man in a moving ceremony.
Jamil's mother Ash said: "I can't believe it has been two years. To be very honest it feels like yesterday, constantly replaying that day in our heads.
"I don't think we can ever turn the page for a new chapter.
"Jamil was such a loyal young man, he was funny, caring and we are so blessed to have had him as part of our family albeit a short time, he would have been so proud at the turnout for Friday's memorial, it was so lovely to see family, friends and young cadets supporting anti-knife crime but also to see that Jamil had touched so many people's lives.
'Life taken over a playground feud'
"We would have preferred that Jam was still here with us, and watch him grow into a man and be something so special, maybe getting married, having children and being that big brother to his two baby sisters, but all that was taken over a playground feud."
Jamil's family and friends were joined by some of the police officers who helped secure Barre's conviction and by police cadets who are preparing a public campaign urging young people like them not to carry knives.
They gathered around a bench close to the spot where Jamil was stabbed in the heart, where they observed a minute's silence and laid flowers in his memory.
As well as the chance to reflect and remember Jamil, the day was about tackling knife crime and preventing other families enduring the heartbreak his have suffered.
'Be a leader not a follower'
Ash had a powerful message for anyone thinking of carrying a weapon, especially in the wake of a spate of stabbings in Hounslow, including the killing of Sahil Roy, in Isleworth .
"If you carry any weapon it will end up one of two ways either in prison or the loss of a life... maybe yours!" she said.
"You have the chance of a future, something that we won't ever see with Jamil now. Some of you already have children and some will in the future. If we don't stop knife crime, think how it would affect your children growing up.
"Respect on the streets won't educate you, it won't buy your clothes and it won't pay your rent, you can't make choices for other people but you can do the right thing. So be a leader not a follower!"
Mr Palmer was killed in an organised fight in the park by Barre, who was seeking revenge after a video had been shared showing Jamil knocking him unconscious.
The park was bathed in sunshine on the anniversary of his death, much like it had been on the fateful day itself.
READ MORE:Moving message from Jamil Palmer's mum in full
But the horrific scenes of that day were replaced by the sights and sounds of children frolicking in the playground and cyclists wending their way home through the picturesque spot.
'To assist the police in a murder enquiry is not snitching'
A mural to Jamil, who lived in Hampton and attended Teddington School and Kingston College, adorns a wall at the entrance to the park, but it is one of the few remaining signs of the tragedy which unfolded there.
The pain of Jamil's death will always be with his family, and Ash has told how it was deepened by the fact some of his friends who witnessed the killing refused to give evidence out of a misguided sense of loyalty.
DC Paul Webb spoke at the memorial ceremony about he and fellow investigators felt they had got to know Jamil and his "great sense of humour" through his "incredible" family, despite never meeting him.
He too urged young people not to carry knives to prevent any more deaths, but he also had a strong message for those who refuse to assist police with their enquiries.
"To assist the police in a murder enquiry is not snitching - it is making sure that no one else loses their life and that a person responsible for murder if brought to justice. Please remember this!" he said.
Friends tell how Jamil would always make them laugh
Barre, of Byron Avenue, Hounslow, was found guilty of murder and at the Old Bailey on December 10, 2014 was given a life sentence with a minimum jail term of 17 years.
Jamil's friends, who attended the memorial ceremony on Friday (May 6) shared their memories of him, with his sense of humour standing out in their recollections.
Bobbie Hughes, who attended Teddington School with him, said: "He was always funny, friendly and I love him."
Lauren Davies, who said she had known him since they were 11, said: "He was always funny, smiley and never in a bad mood. He always put a smile on your face.
"It's hard to believe he's gone. You still feel like he's going to walk round the corner at any moment."
Police in Hounslow recently installed a number of knife bins across the borough as part of a crackdown on the deadly weapons.
They have also promised to step up the use of stop and search powers in a bid to remove knives from the streets.
