Latest news with #PANInterculturalArts
Sky News
8 hours ago
- Sky News
Annabel Rook: Tributes to charity worker found stabbed to death in house after gas explosion
A charity has paid tribute to a former employee after she was found stabbed to death following a gas explosion at a house in London. Annabel Rook, 46, was found fatally injured at a property in Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, north-east London, just before 5am on Tuesday. A 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and police have described the victim's death as "a domestic-related incident". Ms Rook worked at PAN Intercultural Arts - an organisation which holds arts workshops to help young people including refugees - for 16 years until 2022. John Martin, its artistic director, said: "She came to learn the techniques that we had to work with young refugees, and soon we took her on as a full artist, as a facilitator, to run workshops for us with unaccompanied asylum seekers, especially minors, and with young refugees. "She brought lots of happiness and joy, and I've had many, many of them [the refugees] who've heard the news get back to me last night and today to say how devastated they are." Ms Rook went on to form a pioneering group, named the Amies project, which uses the arts, drama and creative writing to help traumatised female survivors of trafficking. "Annabel's energy brought a lot to the women and gave them new hope," Mr Martin said. "This was her speciality, I think - a sort of a boundless optimism, a boundless self-confidence, which she transferred onto other people." Mr Martin said he last saw Ms Rook at a charity event in London around a month ago, where she was "very friendly and ebullient as always". More recently, Ms Rook co-founded MamaSuze CIC, a charity that supports refugee and migrant women, some of whom have fled domestic violence, with art and drama activities. The organisation said it was "devastated by the loss of our beloved co-founder" who treated everyone with "warmth and kindness". In the statement shared on Tuesday, it added: "Annabel was a profound force for good in the world, dedicating her working life to supporting women survivors." Six fire engines were called to the scene of the gas explosion. The front bay window had been blown out, with debris including plants and glass scattered across the street. Two children, aged seven and nine, were taken to hospital as a precaution but are not thought to have been inside the property at the time.
North Wales Chronicle
8 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Woman stab victim in house explosion had ‘boundless optimism', say charity
Annabel Rook, 46, was found fatally injured at a house in Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, north-east London, just before 5am on Tuesday. A 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, with police describing the victim's death as 'a domestic-related incident'. John Martin, artistic director of PAN Intercultural Arts, where Ms Rook worked with young refugees for 16 years until 2022, described her as 'a larger-than-life character' who joined the charity as a volunteer with lots of energy. In a personal tribute, Mr Martin told the PA news agency: 'She came to learn the techniques that we had to work with young refugees, and soon we took her on as a full artist, as a facilitator, to run workshops for us with unaccompanied asylum seekers, especially minors, and with young refugees. 'She brought lots of happiness and joy, and I've had many, many of them (the refugees) who've heard the news get back to me last night and today to say how devastated they are.' Ms Rook went on to form a pioneering new group under the charity's umbrella, called the Amies project, which works with traumatised female survivors of trafficking through the use of the arts, drama, creative writing and design art. The group went on to win national awards and helped to form choirs that sang all over the UK, Mr Martin said. He added: 'Annabel's energy brought a lot to the women and gave them new hope. 'This was her speciality, I think – a sort of a boundless optimism, a boundless self-confidence, which she transferred onto other people.' Mr Martin said he had seen Ms Rook at a charity event in London around a month ago, where she was 'very friendly and ebullient as always'. Reflecting on the news of her death, he told PA: 'It was a massive loss for us, a massive shock when we heard what had happened. 'She spent her life, certainly the 10, 12 years that I knew her, fighting against women who had been abused, fighting against violence to women, and the irony is that she then suffered from violence to women in the way that she died yesterday.' More recently, Ms Rook had co-founded the MamaSuze CIC charity that supports refugee and migrant women, some of whom had fled domestic violence, with art and drama activities. The organisation said in a statement shared on Tuesday that it was 'devastated by the loss of our beloved co-founder' and that she treated everyone with 'warmth and kindness'. 'Annabel was a profound force for good in the world, dedicating her working life to supporting women survivors,' it added. Six fire engines and 40 firefighters were called to the scene early on Tuesday. The front bay window of the property was completely blown out that morning, with debris including plants, wooden shutters and glass scattered across the street. Two children, aged seven and nine, were also taken to hospital as a precaution following the incident but are not thought to have been inside the home when the explosion happened.
Glasgow Times
8 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Woman stab victim in house explosion had ‘boundless optimism', say charity
Annabel Rook, 46, was found fatally injured at a house in Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, north-east London, just before 5am on Tuesday. A 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, with police describing the victim's death as 'a domestic-related incident'. John Martin, artistic director of PAN Intercultural Arts, where Ms Rook worked with young refugees for 16 years until 2022, described her as 'a larger-than-life character' who joined the charity as a volunteer with lots of energy. Emergency services attended the scene and examined the property following the explosion (Yui Mok/PA) In a personal tribute, Mr Martin told the PA news agency: 'She came to learn the techniques that we had to work with young refugees, and soon we took her on as a full artist, as a facilitator, to run workshops for us with unaccompanied asylum seekers, especially minors, and with young refugees. 'She brought lots of happiness and joy, and I've had many, many of them (the refugees) who've heard the news get back to me last night and today to say how devastated they are.' Ms Rook went on to form a pioneering new group under the charity's umbrella, called the Amies project, which works with traumatised female survivors of trafficking through the use of the arts, drama, creative writing and design art. The group went on to win national awards and helped to form choirs that sang all over the UK, Mr Martin said. He added: 'Annabel's energy brought a lot to the women and gave them new hope. 'This was her speciality, I think – a sort of a boundless optimism, a boundless self-confidence, which she transferred onto other people.' Mr Martin said he had seen Ms Rook at a charity event in London around a month ago, where she was 'very friendly and ebullient as always'. Reflecting on the news of her death, he told PA: 'It was a massive loss for us, a massive shock when we heard what had happened. 'She spent her life, certainly the 10, 12 years that I knew her, fighting against women who had been abused, fighting against violence to women, and the irony is that she then suffered from violence to women in the way that she died yesterday.' More recently, Ms Rook had co-founded the MamaSuze CIC charity that supports refugee and migrant women, some of whom had fled domestic violence, with art and drama activities. The organisation said in a statement shared on Tuesday that it was 'devastated by the loss of our beloved co-founder' and that she treated everyone with 'warmth and kindness'. 'Annabel was a profound force for good in the world, dedicating her working life to supporting women survivors,' it added. Six fire engines and 40 firefighters were called to the scene early on Tuesday. The front bay window of the property was completely blown out that morning, with debris including plants, wooden shutters and glass scattered across the street. Two children, aged seven and nine, were also taken to hospital as a precaution following the incident but are not thought to have been inside the home when the explosion happened.
The Independent
9 hours ago
- The Independent
Woman stab victim in house explosion had ‘boundless optimism', say charity
A charity has paid tribute to its former employee's 'boundless optimism' after she was found stabbed following a gas explosion at her home. Annabel Rook, 46, was found fatally injured at a house in Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, north-east London, just before 5am on Tuesday. A 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, with police describing the victim's death as 'a domestic-related incident'. John Martin, artistic director of PAN Intercultural Arts, where Ms Rook worked with young refugees for 16 years until 2022, described her as 'a larger-than-life character' who joined the charity as a volunteer with lots of energy. In a personal tribute, Mr Martin told the PA news agency: 'She came to learn the techniques that we had to work with young refugees, and soon we took her on as a full artist, as a facilitator, to run workshops for us with unaccompanied asylum seekers, especially minors, and with young refugees. 'She brought lots of happiness and joy, and I've had many, many of them (the refugees) who've heard the news get back to me last night and today to say how devastated they are.' Ms Rook went on to form a pioneering new group under the charity's umbrella, called the Amies project, which works with traumatised female survivors of trafficking through the use of the arts, drama, creative writing and design art. The group went on to win national awards and helped to form choirs that sang all over the UK, Mr Martin said. He added: 'Annabel's energy brought a lot to the women and gave them new hope. 'This was her speciality, I think – a sort of a boundless optimism, a boundless self-confidence, which she transferred onto other people.' Mr Martin said he had seen Ms Rook at a charity event in London around a month ago, where she was 'very friendly and ebullient as always'. Reflecting on the news of her death, he told PA: 'It was a massive loss for us, a massive shock when we heard what had happened. 'She spent her life, certainly the 10, 12 years that I knew her, fighting against women who had been abused, fighting against violence to women, and the irony is that she then suffered from violence to women in the way that she died yesterday.' More recently, Ms Rook had co-founded the MamaSuze CIC charity that supports refugee and migrant women, some of whom had fled domestic violence, with art and drama activities. The organisation said in a statement shared on Tuesday that it was 'devastated by the loss of our beloved co-founder' and that she treated everyone with 'warmth and kindness'. 'Annabel was a profound force for good in the world, dedicating her working life to supporting women survivors,' it added. Six fire engines and 40 firefighters were called to the scene early on Tuesday. The front bay window of the property was completely blown out that morning, with debris including plants, wooden shutters and glass scattered across the street. Two children, aged seven and nine, were also taken to hospital as a precaution following the incident but are not thought to have been inside the home when the explosion happened.
South Wales Guardian
10 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Woman stab victim in house explosion had ‘boundless optimism', say charity
Annabel Rook, 46, was found fatally injured at a house in Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, north-east London, just before 5am on Tuesday. A 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, with police describing the victim's death as 'a domestic-related incident'. John Martin, artistic director of PAN Intercultural Arts, where Ms Rook worked with young refugees for 16 years until 2022, described her as 'a larger-than-life character' who joined the charity as a volunteer with lots of energy. In a personal tribute, Mr Martin told the PA news agency: 'She came to learn the techniques that we had to work with young refugees, and soon we took her on as a full artist, as a facilitator, to run workshops for us with unaccompanied asylum seekers, especially minors, and with young refugees. 'She brought lots of happiness and joy, and I've had many, many of them (the refugees) who've heard the news get back to me last night and today to say how devastated they are.' Ms Rook went on to form a pioneering new group under the charity's umbrella, called the Amies project, which works with traumatised female survivors of trafficking through the use of the arts, drama, creative writing and design art. The group went on to win national awards and helped to form choirs that sang all over the UK, Mr Martin said. He added: 'Annabel's energy brought a lot to the women and gave them new hope. 'This was her speciality, I think – a sort of a boundless optimism, a boundless self-confidence, which she transferred onto other people.' Mr Martin said he had seen Ms Rook at a charity event in London around a month ago, where she was 'very friendly and ebullient as always'. Reflecting on the news of her death, he told PA: 'It was a massive loss for us, a massive shock when we heard what had happened. 'She spent her life, certainly the 10, 12 years that I knew her, fighting against women who had been abused, fighting against violence to women, and the irony is that she then suffered from violence to women in the way that she died yesterday.' More recently, Ms Rook had co-founded the MamaSuze CIC charity that supports refugee and migrant women, some of whom had fled domestic violence, with art and drama activities. The organisation said in a statement shared on Tuesday that it was 'devastated by the loss of our beloved co-founder' and that she treated everyone with 'warmth and kindness'. 'Annabel was a profound force for good in the world, dedicating her working life to supporting women survivors,' it added. Six fire engines and 40 firefighters were called to the scene early on Tuesday. The front bay window of the property was completely blown out that morning, with debris including plants, wooden shutters and glass scattered across the street. Two children, aged seven and nine, were also taken to hospital as a precaution following the incident but are not thought to have been inside the home when the explosion happened.
