LIBERTY BAKER’s father said she would have “loved” the music festival held to celebrate her life.
Thousands of people flocked the first Libfest in Witney on Saturday in glorious sunshine.
Teenage friends of Liberty who put it on saying they were “blown away” by its success.
Of the 11 bands who performed, two were made up of school friends of the Witney 14-year-old, and each played a song written in her memory.
Band Twisted State of Mind, who were friends of Liberty, invited family members on stage to join in with song Forever, written in her memory
On Saturday, Liberty’s father Paul Baker, who joined the celebrations with Liberty’s mother Maureen, said: “We’re just overwhelmed by it all, we can’t believe all the effort that has gone into it in her memory.
“We would have loved it. She loved live music and real bands – she wasn’t into those manufactured bands.”
The event raised money for road safety groups Road Peace and Brake, and bereavement charity Seesaw.
All three supported Liberty’s family after they lost their daughter on June 30 last year, when she was hit by a car that mounted the pavement as she walked to school.
Alexandra Mankowska, seven, left, and Mida Loa, six, enjoy the festival
Members of the family came from as far as Birmingham, Manchester and Leicester to join thousands of others celebrating her life.
Three of Liberty’s former classmates who make up heavy metal band Twisted State of Mind performed second on the bill, and 15-year-old bassist Ben Comley summed up the mood of the event when he said: I just want to thank everyone for coming and all the bands for performing.
“It is a good way to celebrate the life of a young girl who shouldn’t have died.”
The festival began as the vision of Liberty’s friends Perry Kerslake and Kieran Butler, who went to Witney Youth Centre with her.
In between rushing around with a walkie talkie and organising bands on Saturday, Kieran, 18, from Witney, said: “In our heads it was such a small event, it’s just blown our minds how big it is today.
“Liberty was the most caring person, she would do anything for anyone and wouldn’t expect anything in return.
“I think she would have loved today.”
Among the dozens of other organisers was Faye Carrick, who managed the nursery that Liberty and her brother Finley went to growing up in Witney.
She said: “I got involved because I wanted to make Libfest the best it could be.“We have exceeded all our expectations, the community coming together, all the different skills... everyone in Witney has done whatever they can to help”.
Alongside the music, food stalls and entertainment was a more serious side: road safety stalls and a pitch from Oxfordshire County Council fire and rescue service reminded everyone that, as brilliant as the day was, accidents of this type which prompted it should never be allowed to happen again.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here