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Alice 'will be happy' to see schoolfriends playing

Stewart Whittingham
BBC News
Family Handout Alice Aguiar, wearing her school uniform of a white shirt and a yellow-and-navy striped tie, smiles for the camera. She has long, dark brown hair tied into a plaited ponytail.Family Handout
Churchtown Primary School was like a "second home" to Alice Aguiar, her dad said

The father of one of the girls murdered in the Southport knife attacks has said she will be "happy to see her friends" enjoying a new playground that is planned for her old school.

Sergio Aguiar, whose nine-year-old daughter Alice died in the July 2024 attacks along with Bebe King, six, and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, spoke to BBC Breakfast after a memorial appeal raised £250,000.

It means a new playground can be built at Churchtown Primary School in Southport, where Bebe had also previously attended, in time for the new school year in September.

Mr Aguiar said: "I wish Alice can enjoy the new playground but I think she is going to be happy to see her friends enjoy the new playground."

Family handouts Alice Aguiar smiles as she is photographed wearing a white dress and floral hairband. Bebe King grins as she points to her black T-shirt.Family handouts
Alice Aguiar, nine, and six-year-old Bebe King (right) had both attended the primary school in Southport

Along with the school's head teacher Jinnie Payne, Mr Aguiar had been planning to run a marathon to raise the money needed for the new playground, which will include a performance stage and library.

After appearing on BBC Breakfast on Saturday, however, their fundraising target had been smashed.

They will still be taking part in the London Marathon on 27 April.

Speaking at the school on Monday, he said: "I want to say a massive 'thank you' to all of the community and the whole of the country.

"There has been more than 8,000 donations - it is amazing."

Alice's mother Alex Aguiar added: "I cannot wait to see the children play in the new playground - especially Alice's class."

Alice's dad Sergio, wearing a black top and dark grey jacket, stands next to his wife Alex, who is also wearing black, in their daughter's old school playground in Southport.
Alice Aguiar's parents said they were very grateful for all of the support they had received

Standing alongside the Aguiars, Ms Payne read a message from Bebe's parents, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

"We are incredibly grateful to everyone who made this playground possible," they wrote.

"To the school, the donors and the entire community - thank you for your generosity and kindness.

"Bebe loved this school so much. Knowing that future generations will have a place to play, laugh and make memories is so special to us.

"This playground is a beautiful tribute to Bebe and Alice and their light will live on in the joy of the children who will enjoy it for years to come.

"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

Head teacher Jinnie Payne, wearing a pearl necklace and yellow dress, speaks in one of her school's classrooms to the BBC.
Head teacher Jinnie Payne is training with Alice's father to run the London Marathon

Ms Payne said the level of community support since the 29 July attacks at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class had been "absolutely extraordinary".

She added: "This project is a testament to the love that surrounds Alice and Bebe and their memory."

Ms Payne said she hoped the playground would give "joy" to the girls' classmates and many more children.

Axel Rudakubana was jailed for a minimum of 52 years in January for murdering the three girls and attempting to murder eight other children, class instructor Leanne Lucas, and businessman John Hayes.

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