Richard Adeyemi Taylor OBE (1948 – 2024) was a civil servant and long-time campaigner against youth violence. Taylor took up the cause against Knife crime when he lost his 10-year-old son, Damilola in 2000 to youth violence in south London.
Born in Nigeria, Taylor studied at Harrow Polytechnic before returning to Lagos in1982, where he worked for the defence ministry. He returned to Britain with his family in 2000, the same year of his son’s fatal killing. Taylor worked tirelessly with the police to bring Damilola’s killers to justice, finally ending in a conviction in 2006.
Together with footballer Rio Ferdinand, Taylor founded the Damilola Taylor Trust which provides hope and support for young people, especially those at risk of gang violence. In a tribute to his son’s desire to become a doctor, the trust offered medical scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In 2002 the the Damilola Taylor Centre offered sports and community facilities.
Taylor was appointed as a special envoy on youth violence and knife crime by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2009. In addition, the Damilola Taylor Trust launched the Spirit of London awards to celebrate the talents of young people. In 2011 he was granted an OBE for his efforts to tackle violent crime. Richard Taylor sadly passed away in 2024 after a battle with cancer.
Refs: Richard Taylor obituary | Knife crime | The Guardian; Brothers convicted of Damilola’s killing | The Independent | The Independent; Why We Exist — Damilola Taylor Trust
