THIS is the heart-breaking story of an ordinary couple who were unwittingly propelled into the media spotlight as they tried to grieve for the unthinkable loss of their 12-year-old son.

In 1993 Colin and Wendy Parry made the brave decision to speak out about their heartache to help move the peace process forward and to make sure their son’s death wasn’t in vain. 

Coming to terms with a child’s death in such tragic circumstances is almost impossible but their courage in those early days and in the subsequent 25 years has paved the way for a charity which is now helping so many victims whose lives have become engulfed by conflict.

But while her son’s name has become synonymous with peace, Wendy will always remember him as her ‘cheeky’ son who crammed a lifetime into 12 short years.

“He was a normal 12-year-old who loved life,” recalled Wendy ahead of the 25th anniversary service held in his memory. For photos from the service click here.

“Tim was having golf lessons, he played squash with his dad, he played football for a Sunday team and for the school team.

“He was having guitar lessons, he was a sea scout and he had just got his solo sailing certificate – he wanted to do everything all the time.

“He had so many friends because he was so bubbly. 

“He could be cheeky but he loved everything. It was like he crammed a lifetime into 12 years.”

Warrington Guardian:

PICTURED: Wendy and Colin Parry

Wendy, 60, can still recount every detail after she discovered Tim had been caught up in the second bomb blast as if it was yesterday – every pain-staking moment remains etched in her memory.

On March 20, 1993, Wendy along with Colin and her dad had taken her car to the garage and were on their way home when two bombs exploded in Warrington town centre.

The family were unaware of the tragedy that was unfolding on a busy high street as they chatted away in the car.

As they pulled up outside their home in Great Sankey, it was clear something was wrong. With concerned neighbours congregating on the street, it wasn’t long before the sickening panic started to sink in.

Tim’s sister Abbi, 11, and brother Dominic, 14, were fine but they couldn’t get hold of Tim.

The couple rushed to Warrington Hospital after hearing that Tim’s friend Piers had been injured.

“There were so many people milling around, when we eventually got to the desk we told them we couldn’t find our son,” said Wendy.

“We gave a description and his age but they said there’s no-one here matching those details.”

Hours passed by but the family were still unable to trace Tim, desperate for answers about his whereabouts. Around three hours later they were finally given the answer they had been dreading when they were asked if they recognised a watch and a St Christopher chain – they were Tim’s.

“The surgeon said Tim had been in surgery for two hours and he didn’t think he was going to make it through the night,” said Wendy. 

“I remember saying to the nurse ‘has he been operating on Tim?’ as I didn’t understand what was happening.

“I thought I was going to be sick.”

The couple were told to go home as they were unable to see Tim, who was in intensive care fighting for his life.

Wendy spent Mother’s Day unsure if her son would survive to see another day.

“The doctors were all saying how surprised they were that he survived the night,” said Wendy.

Tim was taken to Walton Hospital with a 30 per cent chance of survival.

“A couple of doctors came to see us and a plastic surgeon. 

“They said he had lost the right side of his face but it wasn’t as bad as they thought it would be,” said Wendy.

“He had lost his eye but they said they could reconstruct his face.”
But five days after the bomb blast the 12-year-old’s life machine was switched off.

“After the bombing, if it had just been me I would have locked the door and shut the curtains and just got on with it on my own,” said Wendy.

“But it was such a political killing and for about 12 months after the media were asking us to do interviews. 

“It became a part of our lives at the time, yet at home I just wanted to keep Dominic and Abbi’s lives as normal as possible.”

Setting up The Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball Foundation was a way for the couple to channel their grief into a legacy that both her son and Johnathan would be proud of.

“We never knew Johnathan but his family were quite happy for us to keep his memory alive,” she said.

“So in a way when we talk about Tim we talk about Johnathan – it is like they are brothers.

“We didn’t know him but he’s a part of our family.”

She now hopes the foundation will inspire others to turn their backs on violence and terrorism.

“I can only hope the work of the foundation will help people to keep violence out of everything and for people to talk to each other,” said Wendy, who is the charity’s events and fundraising manager.

“Fighting doesn’t achieve anything. 

“We always say we will talk to anyone and Colin used to say if Bin Laden had come to the Peace Centre then he would talk to him. 

“It’s the only way you can stop people from fighting.”

For more on the Warrington bombing pick up a copy of our special anniversary edition to mark 25 years since the tragic killing. On sale now.