THE family of Ashley Woolley has been granted special permission by Chelmsford City Council to plant a commemorative tree in Oaklands Park honouring their late son's life.
Their wish to remember him with a lasting tribute at the site of the fatal stabbing last week has been given the blessing of council leader, Councillor Roy Whitehead, his deputy, Cllr John Galley, as well as the councillor for parks and leisure, Cllr Ray Ride.
Cllr Whitehead, was unequivocal in his support for the tribute. He said: "I am of course aware of the situation as I have been following the news on the Essex Chronicle website.
"My initial reaction would obviously be a yes; I think it would be a jolly good idea. We plant the mayor's tree every year so we are involved with a lot of commemorative trees."
Such are the unique circumstances surrounding the request by Ashley's family that emergency powers can be granted by the council to speed up the process, and the tree could be planted as soon as mid-January.
Council members of the Parks and Leisure department would usually consider such a request, but Cllr Ride emphasised there will be no hesitation in responding to the family's wish. He said: "A meeting has been arranged for early in the new year to discuss and explore all options."
The council also expressed its desire to help pay for the commemorative tree, although it would need to consult with Ashley's family first about what tree they would like.
We have lost a part of our lives that we will never get back
His heartbroken family also paid tribute to a loveable, energetic boy "who could light up a room with his smile".
Ashley Woolley was attacked in Oaklands Park in Chelmsford on his way to college at 3.15pm on Thursday last week.
He was rushed to Broomfield Hospital, but died several hours later from his injuries.
Ashley's devastated dad, Trevor Woolley, 45, said he had been wrapping the 18-year-old's Christmas presents before hearing about the attack.
"We have lost a part of our lives that we'll never get back," Trevor said. "I was wrapping his presents not knowing what was going on and I wrote a cheque out for his driving licence because I wanted to have Ashley driving by the time he was 20, when I passed my test.
"I'd written out the cheque ready to get him driving on December 30, his 19th birthday.
"When I went in to see him at the hospital, I was looking, but I couldn't believe it was him. I was thinking 'no, that's not him'. My eyes were saying to me 'that's him', but my head was saying 'that's not him, no, no that's not him'. "I still can't believe it now, one minute I'll be driving down the road, then I have to stop because I'm blubbing my eyes out, then I'll carry on again, then I'm blubbing my eyes out.
"I've been so busy since, it's only when I sit there quietly that it sinks in. Then when you see all the messages from everybody that you get it, my God, he did touch everybody."
Ashley's brother Paul, 25, described the 18-year-old as always happy, cheerful, and full of life. "His friends all said the same stuff; that he was so happy and smiley, always having a laugh, even if they only saw him for a few seconds he was always so happy. He touched many hearts, I couldn't have been more proud of him. He loved free running and doing backflips.
"One summer he went to a beach, put a box on the floor and started doing backflips off a rock and people were so amazed they started throwing money in the box. He said 'Paul, Paul I made loads of money yesterday'. He was definitely full of energy."
Ashley's family have received hundreds of messages of support since his death, with a Facebook page set up by his best friend Ian Day attracting more than 4,000 likes. A sea of flowers, cars and energy drink cans are laid outside Oaklands Park.
"He loved his energy drinks, the 35p ones," Trevor smiled. "Ashley smoked, and you always saw him walking along with what I called his man bag, he hated me calling it that, on his arm and his energy drink in his hand.
"So when you see everyone standing outside Oaklands Park, all cracking open their energy drinks, lighting up a fag and putting it down saying 'here you are mate, have that', it's so touching to see them doing that and thinking they did know him, they knew what he was like."
His girlfriendAshley's family also spoke of his devotion to his girlfriend, Charlotte Jones, 17, adding that the pair had been inseparable.
Charlotte, who also visited the tribute, told ITV: "He was just the most kind boy ever and he always had a lovely smile on his face, and he was just so considerate of other people and wanted to make other people happy.
"Ash, I love you and I'll never stop loving you because you were my best friend as well."
As well as leaving heartfelt tributes on Facebook and at Oaklands Park, Ashley's best friend Ian Day, 19, has started a Fundrazr page to raise money towards Ashley's funeral. He posted: "On the 18th December 2014 my best friend Ashley Woolley was tragically killed in Oaklands Park, Chelmsford.
"I have set up this fundraiser to help with funeral costs and anything that can be done to support his family, please feel free to donate as little or as much as you're willing to give, I along with everyone who cared for Ash want to give him the send-off he deserves. Thank you again to everyone for all of the kind words and may Ash rest in peace."
When the Chronicle went to press, more than £1,900 had been donated by friends and well-wishers. Fundraising had to temporarily stop on Tuesday because the huge amount donated in such a short time prompted an investigation.His schools
Trevor, of Bramble Road, Witham, said he had received messages of condolence from as far away as Australia and America, as well as from teachers from The Boswells School, which he attended until after his GCSEs, and from Chelmsford College, where he was studying at the time of the attack.
The Boswells School head teacher Paul Banks said: "We were devastated to learn of the tragic death of Ashley. Ashley was a very popular member of The Boswells School community and was well liked by peers and staff alike. We are all totally shocked at this news and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time."
Principal Andy Sparks, from Chelmsford College, added: "Ashley was well liked by both students and teaching staff – the college community is shocked and upset by this tragic loss.
"Since the news of the tragedy broke tributes to Ashley have been flooding in, which is testament to his popularity."
'He would be loving all this attention'Other members of Ashley's family, including his nan, and aunts Emma and Sharon, said they had been blessed to have the teenager in their lives. They added: "Words cannot express the pain we feel in our hearts at the tragic loss of our beloved Ashley. We were privileged and blessed to have Ashley in our family.
"To have watched all of the different ages and stages of him growing up into the charming, popular, handsome young man that he had become. We are totally devastated and we are finding it extremely hard to accept that we will never see Ashley again. We'll always love him and miss him."
The 18-year-old lived in Rutland Road, Chelmsford with his mum Maria – who is too distraught to talk – and died just weeks shy of his 19th birthday. He was studying business and his family said he dreamed of getting into university.
"He wanted to go to university, that's what his ultimate goal was," Trevor explained. "He was at college and this was the first year he was actually knuckling under. I believe next year he would have gone to university – he was trying to do well. And he got himself back into this college, he did it all off his own back."
Ashley's brother Paul said: "I'd like to think I showed him right from wrong and taught him the way to be, but the truth is he taught me more than I could ever teach him. He touched so many people in so many different ways, and to see them all there outside Oaklands Park, girls and boys."
Trevor added: "He would be loving it, he would be loving the attention. We have lost a part of our lives that we'll never get back but, up until this happened, we had a good time. There's no thinking 'I wish we could have done this, I wish we could have done that', and things we would have done eventually. That's why we want a good send-off."
![Oaklands Park memorial tree to provide lasting tribute to Ashley Woolley]( "Oaklands Park memorial tree to provide lasting tribute to Ashley Woolley")
