Background / History

On the evening of 21 February 1991, Rolan and Nathan Adams aged 15 and 14 respectively, went to visit a friend on the Thamesmead estate. Their friend was not at home, so they went to the Hawksmoor Youth Club to see if he was there. He was not at the youth club, so Rolan and Nathan decided to make their way home. While standing at the bus stop outside the youth club, Rolan and Nathan were suddenly confronted by a gang of white youths, approximately 15 of them, aged between 16 and 26. The gang taunted, jeered and racially abused them. The gang then set about them in an unprovoked and vicious attack. Tragically, Rolan was fatally stabbed from behind. Realising that something was dreadfully wrong Rolan shouted to his brother Nathan to run just as he himself began running for his life they were separated.

Rolan being fatally wounded did not survive the attack and was found dying on the elevated section of the roundabout. Nathan was chased across part of Thamesmead, including under the elevated bypasses and roundabouts. He eventually and fortuitously evaded the pursuing racist gang. After he had rested and gathered his thoughts Nathan ventured back to the direction he though his brother would emerge from, only to find Rolan in a pool of blood dying.

The gang that attacked both Rolan and Nathan were well known in Thamesmead, both to the Police and local residents for being racially violent and racially abusive, as they regularly terrorised the local Black communities in the area. Therefore it was not difficult for the Police to identify and capture the suspects and they were quickly arrested.

Of the 15 perpetrators only four of the original gang eventually faced trial. Mark Thornburrow was tried and convicted for murder. The others, after much plea-bargaining by their defence team, were convicted of the lesser charge of violent disorder, and were sentenced to 120 hours community service. Whilst the motivation of the attack was put forward as “territorialism” the Judge in his summing up rightly identified that the murder was racially motivated. No one was ever charged or convicted for the attempted murder and assault on Nathan.

Rolan was buried on 21 March 1991, what would have been his 16^th birthday.

We were all devastated beyond belief when Rolan was taken from us in such a dreadful manner, but we vowed at the time to do something to ensure that his life was not taken in vain.

The Rolan Adams Legacy Foundation was therefore set up and dedicated to the memory of our Dear Son and Brother. Rolan’s life was tragically taken from him before he had the chance to fulfill his ambitions and desires. He was academically brilliant and was a talented musician, destined to go on to do great things with his life. He believed in himself and was adamant that he was going to make a difference in this world. The Foundation, we hope will be a testimony to this.