PARENTS BACK TV
IT was a devastating scene that had played through the minds of Colin and Wendy Parry time and time again over the years.
But the television re-enactment of the moment their beloved son was caught in an IRA bomb still left them reeling with shock.
Tim Parry, 12, would die from the injuries he received while shopping for a Mother’s Day gift on March 20, 1993, in Warrington, Cheshire.
Toddler Johnathan Ball, two, was killed outright in an attack which drew universal condemnation.
But while watching a BBC drama about the incident was tough, the Parrys co-operated with producers and agree it is right to show it.
For it helps keep alive the memory of their beloved son – someone they talk about constantly.
Mother’s Day goes out on BBC2 tomorrow night and relives the aftermath of the atrocity and how it led to a huge push for peace.
Colin, 71, said: “To watch the bomb go off was shocking.
“The idea that after the first bomb Tim staggered around dazed and walks into the second one is horrifying. It was difficult to watch as you’re thinking that’s what your own son went through.”
SENSITIVITY
Tim died in hospital a month later. Moving scenes show his life support being switched off – but Colin insists they were done with the utmost sensitivity.
Line of Duty actor Daniel Mays, 40, and Anna Maxwell Martin, 41, play the Parrys. And Colin said: “The time in hospital, that was played very well. Danny and Anna were great. Anna captured Wendy absolutely brilliantly.
“We didn’t meet them before but they watched interviews we gave at the time and we handed over home videos.
“It sat well with our everlasting desire to keep Tim alive.
“The biggest, most emotional days are his birthday, Christmas and the anniversary of the day he died. We never forget Tim.
“We sit around the dinner table and talk about him and speak about him on holiday. We remember him as vividly as possible.”
Wendy, 61 – whose other children Abbi and Dom are now grown up – added: “We have four grandchildren now who talk about Tim as though they knew him. We talk about him like he’s still here.
“A month ago our grand-daughter was given the Tim Parry Trophy. We didn’t know the school had a trophy named after him. That was terrific.”
The couple founded the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation and centre, helping survivors of terrorism and programmes to promote peace in communities. With ongoing terror plots, the charity is always busy. And the Manchester Arena bomb attack, which killed 22 last year, had a deep impact on the Parrys. Colin said: “The past two years we’ve seen activity like never before. We’re helping around 900 people. When you have grown men walking through the door crying because they can’t cope with what their children have gone through, it’s heartbreaking. Manchester affected us more than anything. “It was young people going out to have a good time and never coming