6 days Ago By BBC
It was a death that caused outcry and upset throughout a Cumbrian community. Billy, a beloved goose who lived at Whitehaven Harbour, was violently attacked and killed. A year on, people are still searching for answers.
It is a crisp autumn day but the sun shines brightly over Whitehaven Harbour. For years, three cheeky characters have followed tourists around and posed for pictures duly shared on local social media groups. But only Barney and Rose remain.
A year ago, the third of the harbour geese, Billy, was killed. His death left a town in mourning. Overlooking the harbour, Andrew Power sits with his wife, Nan, at a bench by the boats.
He says no animal should ever be targeted in such a "terrible" way. "They have as much right to be on the harbour as we have," he says. Alan Cleaver, who lives in the town centre, says when Billy was killed, people were "very upset" but the town must "move on and keep an eye on the ones that are left".
"As they say, the wheels of justice grind slow, but grind exceedingly small and whoever is responsible will get their comeuppance at some point, I'm sure." Billy was killed on the night of 17 November last year. A video circulated online at the time was described as "beyond cruel" by an animal rescue volunteer, who is now creating a lasting memorial, featuring his ashes.
Two 16-year-olds boys were arrested at the time on suspicion of causing unnecessary harm to a protected animal and sending communications of an offensive nature. They were released under investigation. No-one has been charged.
Cumbria Police says the incident 12 months ago remains "under active investigation". Dawn Williamson, 58, of Egremont, says she is angry that justice has not yet been served against Billy's attacker. "It's shocking," she says.
"How they got away with that one I don't know - I don't think a lot of people in Whitehaven are going to be happy about that." Mel James, who runs animal rescue sanctuary Ani-Mel Haven, in Beckfoot near Silloth, had nursed Billy back to health just a few weeks before his death, when his foot was injured in an electric gate. She says the news of Billy's death "destroyed her".
"He had a front seat in my car on the way back, seatbelt on - he absolutely loved it," she says, smiling at the memory of Billy, who she says really touched her heart. "I work with animals all the time but, every now and again you get one that's special, he was fantastic, such a comical little character." She watches Billy in a video on her phone squawking as she talks to him, as though he was trying to talk back.
"I can't get it into my head how anybody can do such a thing," she says. "I see cruelty quite often with working in wildlife rescue but that was just beyond cruelty, it was just heartbreaking." Mel says she is angry that no-one has yet been held accountable for what happened to Billy 12 months ago.
"People want justice, they want [his attacker] to be made an example of," she says. Mel is taking care of Billy's ashes and wants to create a memorial at her rescue centre. She wants to build a wishing well with a rainbow roof, which people can access and use as a way to remember their own pets, as well as Billy.
People have already been sending their tributes to the beloved goose, including painted pebbles and garden ornaments. "I know how many people love those geese and travel for miles to see them, so I thought by creating a lasting memorial to him, it's there forever," she says. Jeanne Park, from Pets at Peace in Whitehaven, took care of Billy's cremation for free and has a picture to remember him in her pet crematorium.
"We wanted to give him the dignified farewell he deserved so the people of Whitehaven would know he was comfortable, treated with respect and loved whilst resting with us," she says. And this is not the only way those who loved Billy chose to remember him. Shortly after his death, a mural by the harbour car park depicted scenes from the town, including an appearance from Billy.
Whitehaven Shipshapers, a group of volunteers who tidy up the area, worked with the Harbour Youth group on the mural. Lara Schwab, volunteer organiser, is the one who came up with the idea of featuring the goose. The group had already planned to depict a scene illustrating Whitehaven's heritage and she felt this would be a fitting tribute.
She says: "Where the Harbour Youth is based, [the young people] would always see the three geese travelling around, so they all knew who he was and were sad to lose him, so I think they felt it was a nice touch to put Billy on there.".
