Richard Taylor, who spent the past 24 years campaigning against knife crime after his son Damilola Taylor was killed at the age of 10, has died, his family have announced. The former Nigerian civil servant worked for years to improve the lives of disadvantaged children after his son’s fatal stabbing in November 2000, and set up the Damilola Taylor Trust to campaign against knife crime. Taylor died on Saturday, at the age of 75, after a long illness. A statement issued on behalf of his family said: “It is with a heavy heart that the family announce the death of our beloved father, grandfather and uncle, Mr Richard Adeyemi Taylor OBE, who sadly passed away in the early hours of Saturday 23 March at Queen Elizabeth hospital, Woolwich, after a prolonged battle with prostate cancer.” Taylor always said he wanted his son to be remembered as a boy of hope and for his legacy to be a better life and opportunities for underprivileged young people. Damilola was left bleeding to death in a stairwell in Peckham, south-east London, after he was attacked and slashed with a broken bottle on his way home from a library. After three crown court trials, his two killers, brothers Ricky and Danny Preddie, were put behind bars after being convicted of manslaughter. Richard Taylor and his late wife, Gloria, were spurred on to set up a charity in their son’s memory in the face of the tragedy of his death. On social media, other campaigners and community members who had worked with Taylor paid their respects. “I worked with him closely in Southwark and admired his commitment to Damilola’s legacy and to making life better for young people,” wrote the former Labour councillor Peter John. “His passion and advocacy will be hugely missed.” The Labour MP for Vauxhall, Florence Eshalomi, posted on X: “Very sad to hear this news. Uncle Richard was a strong man who held the legacy and light for the Damilola Taylor trust. “I’m reading through my last message with him where he was reminding me about the work of the trust. He is now at peace with his beloved son and wife.” “Richard devoted his life to improving the lives of other children,” wrote former Labour MP John Austin. PR consultant Ronke Lawal remembered Taylor as “a man of honour and integrity who worked tirelessly campaigning for an end to youth violence and knife crime”. “He kept the memory of his son, Damilola alive,” Lawal wrote. “His legacy shall live on. We are thankful for his life.” Gloria died in 2008 after a heart attack and Richard continued their work in the following years. They were supported by famous faces including footballer Rio Ferdinand, who grew up in Peckham and backed the family in their charity work. Star Wars actor John Boyega was a childhood friend of Damilola and he and his sister Grace were among the last people to see the 10-year-old alive before he walked home on the day he was murdered. Other high-profile politicians paid tribute to Taylor on the X platform on Saturday. Former cabinet minister Harriet Harmanwrote: “So sad to hear this news. RIP Richard Taylor. “He never stopped fighting for other children to have the chances his beloved Damilola never got.” Home secretary James Cleverly said: “Very sad news. I had the chance to work with Richard when I was at city hall, he was determined and dignified in the face of a huge personal tragedy. He will be missed.” Labour’s Dawn Butler, the Brent Central MP, wrote: “My deepest condolences go out to the family of Richard Taylor, he was a great man & a dear friend. “He always had such kind words of wisdom for me. I will miss him. May he rest in eternal peace and may he be reunited with Damilola in heaven.”