London Bridge attack, one year on: ‘Jack's story jolted people – we have to keep that going'

Jack Merritt devoted his short working life to transforming the hopes of prisoners. On the anniversary of his death, family, friends and ex-offenders talk about continuing his legacy

Dave and Anne Merritt weren't sure how to mark today's anniversary of the murder of their beloved son Jack. Milestone days are always the hardest. Unlike the day that would have been his 26th birthday, at the beginning of October, when they and their younger son Joe and Jack's girlfriend, Leanne O'Brien, went for a long walk at one of his favourite places on the Suffolk coast, there are no good memories associated with 29 November. But still, Dave told me a week ago, with typical resolve: We do want to try to somehow confront it."

Jack, he says, was always making stuff: music, art, food. So they are inviting people to join in today with Creating with Jack Merritt", whether that's painting a picture or making up a new cocktail or doing a bit of creative writing". The plan is to share the collective results on Instagram. We don't want to just spend the day thinking about the day," Dave says. I'm sure it will be very upsetting. But it'll be as good a day as we can make it."