Longstanding RoadPeace member and passionate advocate for road danger reduction, Debbie Clack, has been awarded a commendation by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) for her amazing work to front our joint campaign for drink and drug driving over Christmas 2023.
After her daughter Lillie was tragically killed by a drunk driver in the early hours of Christmas Day 2021, she has poured her time and energy into preventing any other family having gone through what she has experienced since Lillie’s death. Her bravery and heartfelt messages over the festive period reached tens of thousands of people over social media, an incredible achievement.
Chief Superintendent Thomas Naughton was delighted to have had the opportunity to meet Debbie and to have presented her with this commendation, formally recognising the significant personal contribution made to the MPS drink/drug driving campaign.
Receiving the MPS and RoadPeace at her new venture in honour of her daughter, a Tearoom in the grounds of the Sutton and Merton cemetery where she is buried, carries Lillie’s name and has provided Debbie with such a positive outlet from where before there was only pain and sadness.
Having never baked before in her life she’s thrown herself fully into providing happiness and enjoyment to all those who pop in. She believes it’s put a whole different meaning on life now, she notices herself smiling and laughing after years of not believing she could again, and when she opens the door every morning and sees Lillie’s face she knows why she’s doing it.
Now she’s helping to raise awareness of road death within this space, allowing her customers see the effects of those selfish individuals that choose to get behind the wheel having consumed drugs or alcohol. Following our visit, she helped to spread the word even further when the grand opening of Lillie’s in the Garden on Saturday 9th November, presided over by local MP Siobhan McDonagh, who has been a strong voice of support for all Debbie’s campaigning.
But her fight for justice and road danger reduction goes far beyond the Tearoom. Her ‘Lillie’s law’ petition to immediately suspend the licence of anyone suspected of death and seriously injury when driving and a lifetime ban following conviction, has reached over 38000 signatures and is increasing all the time.
No one leaves here without signing the petition, she will continue to fight for in Lillie’s name to keep banging the drum until the government stand up and listens that road crime has to be treated as real crime. Until the government acknowledges that those who kill and injure when driving are proper criminals, and are given appropriate sentences, we must keep our sights set firmly on Parliament and spread the word that this is unacceptable and how urgently we need change to fix our broken justice system.
Updated on: 13 November 2024