UPDATE: 'Reclaim These Streets' vigil organised amid Sarah Everard murder investigation is cancelled

A vigil to make Bucks streets safe for women has been organised following the disappearance of Sarah Everard.

Women in Amersham will meet at the NatWest bank, in Hill Avenue, at 6pm tomorrow (Saturday, March 13) for 33-year-old Ms Everard, who disappeared on her walk home from her friend’s house in south London on March 3, and is now the subject of a tragic murder investigation.

Raven Social, an Amersham organisation that helps businesses engage with service users online, tweeted to say women from the area are meeting in solidarity with Ms Everard and her family.

A circular, socially-distanced walk to the Old Town will take place in pairs, with those wishing to take part asked to bring masks and high-visibility or light outerwear, as well as a torch.

Organisers say the walk will be to show that “all women, wherever they are, should be able to walk home safely and without fear”.

Susan Bosher, who is planning to join in the vigil, told the Bucks Free Press it was “knowing that we can’t go out and feel safe at night” that prompted her to take part in the vigil.

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She said: “Before the pandemic when I would go into London to meet friends, I felt that if I was on my own coming back home from the station, it was always something that I was concerned about.

“Sometimes I would phone my husband to pick me up, but we live within walking distance of the station so when that’s the case you feel like ‘I should definitely walk’.

“I thought ‘I shouldn’t need to [call my husband]’. Part of you thinks ‘I should be able to do this, maybe I should be strong and not be afraid’, but then I end up walking home scared, running part of the way or walking down the middle of the road so I feel a bit safer.

“I always resented it because... why should I have to be afraid?”

Ms Everard’s story has sparked a nationwide movement around women’s safety, with a number of Reclaim These Streets vigils being held around the country and thousands of women sharing their experiences of being harassed, abused and even attacked on the streets.

Mrs Bosher added: “You do hear about incidents, not many, but they still play on your mind.

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“Those feelings of ‘it shouldn’t be like that’ are what propel me to walk on my own but then I think ‘was this worth it?’ because my heart’s pumping, I’m looking over my shoulder and it’s a horrible feeling.

“Things haven’t changed, seemingly, over the many years.

“I am hoping [this vigil and walk] will make us feel better and help send a message that this is a real worry and things need to change.”

To join in the vigil in Amersham, you can simply light a candle in your window or join the meet-up outside NatWest.