10-year anniversary: Northampton lights up purple to honour India Chipchase
India Chipchase’s legacy celebrated with purple displays across the town
Venues across Northampton are turning purple tonight as the town comes together to remember India Chipchase, ten years after her tragic death.
India’s legacy is being celebrated across Northampton as businesses, schools, care homes, and nurseries display purple-themed posters, decorations and lights. One Angel Square, Market Square, and the Media Tower at the University among those lit up for the occasion.
A Service of Remembrance is also taking place at All Saints Church at 7pm where India’s family, friends, and members of the community will gather to reflect. Attendees are being asked to wear an item of purple, India’s favourite colour, as a tribute.
In January 2016, India Chipchase was murdered by a local man she had met outside a Northampton nightclub, who promised to get her home safely.
Her death had a deeply felt impact on the local community, leading to the formation of the Northampton Guardians, a volunteer organisation set up in her memory. The group also organised this year's tribute to India.
Trustee Gillian Goodship, from the Guardians, explained: “We’ve always marked her anniversary, but with it now being 10 years, we wanted to do something even bigger. It’s amazing how the whole community has come together to celebrate her life, with posters, t-shirts, and purple decorations across Northampton.”
''It's remembering her and the awful events of her death, but also celebrating her legacy.''
The Northampton Guardians said they ''remember India'' every weekend during safeguarding duties. The group currently has 20 volunteers and the team often stays out from from 10pm through to 5am most weekends.
The group has recently been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2025, the highest accolade for volunteer-led groups in the UK, often referred to as the MBE for voluntary organisations.
Trustee Darren Craven said: “We’re there to safeguard people who are alone, drunk, have lost their friends, their phone’s died, their shoes hurt, or they need medical attention.”
Craven added: “We never have enough volunteers. The work we do is vital, and tonight’s effort is a powerful reminder of the impact of community support.”
To learn more about the Northampton Guardians’ work visit their website.