Boy, 16, Honoured by Local Students After Fatal Birthday Party Stabbing

Students at Lift Broadlands School in Keynsham have united to honor Mikey Roynon, a 16-year-old boy fatally stabbed at a birthday party in Bath in June 2023. Mikey, from Kingswood, Bristol, tragically lost his life in a knife attack that deeply affected the local community.

Following the incident, Shane Cunningham was convicted of murder and is currently serving a life sentence. Two other teenagers, Leo Knight and Cartel Bushnell, originally convicted of manslaughter, had their convictions overturned last year, though both pleaded guilty to possession of bladed articles—charges that remain on record.

Earlier this month, Year 10 pupils at Lift Broadlands raised £1,000 for Mikey’s World, a charity founded by Mikey’s mother, Hayley Ryall. The charity educates young people on the dangers of knife crime and promotes community safety. The school also received an emergency bleed kit as part of its efforts to improve safety on campus.

Hayley Ryall expressed her pride and gratitude: “It was a real pleasure to be nominated by Lift Broadlands. The students did an amazing job presenting Mikey’s World, and their support for placing a bleed kit outside the school has been invaluable. They have great ideas about how to use the prize money to place more bleed kits in the local community.”

The donation came out of the First Give social action programme, which encourages students to research local needs, select charities, and deliver presentations to raise awareness and inspire action in their community.

Lift Broadlands’ Principal, Laura Stone, praised the students’ dedication: “Our Year 10 students embraced the First Give project with enthusiasm, creativity, and teamwork. Their commitment to making a real difference is inspiring, and the positive impact they have achieved is something they can truly be proud of.”

Mikey’s story continues to motivate young people to be informed, equipped, and safe, helping to build a safer community for all.