- By Tracey Miller & Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
- BBC news
Mr Webber’s parents spoke at a vigil held at his home cricket club in Somerset
The parents of the student Barnaby Webber stabbed to death in Nottingham on Tuesday described him as “a lovely soul” during a vigil near his Somerset home.
Mr Webber, 19, died in the attacks in which his classmate Grace O’Malley-Kumar, also 19, and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, were killed.
Sunday’s vigil was held at Bishops Hull Cricket Club, Mr. Webber’s “real home”.
His parents say that support from “his tribe” has created a source of strength.
Emma Webber, Mr Webber’s mother, explains: “The love and support was overwhelming. “This is his real home, his people.
“Today we wanted to come and see what this great club has done for him. He has been healed.”
The teenager from Taunton – a first-year history student at the University of Nottingham – is an accomplished cricketer.
On Friday, England and Australia’s men’s cricket team paid tribute to the victims ahead of the first Ashes test.
Ms Webber said she was overwhelmed by the “outpouring of support”
Describing last week’s memorial services in the city where her son died as “wonderful”, Ms Webber on Sunday said remembering all three victims was “extremely important”.
“We’re in touch with Grace’s family a lot and I hope we can also get in touch with Ian’s family as we have an intrinsic connection now,” she explained.
Mr Webber (left) said: “We always knew he was special.”
Ms Webber’s husband, David Webber, said everything people did to show support across the UK was “wonderful”.
“That gives us strength and I’m sure it gives strength to Grace and Ian’s family,” he said.
“We always know [Barnaby] special, we have always known him as a beautiful person and with a lovely soul.
“People come up to me and say ‘I don’t know Mr. Webber, but your son is so lovely, so funny, he’s really helped me’.
“I see him as the glue that holds all these different groups of friends together,” he added.
The family said the Somerset vigil was a “reflection and memory of a wonderful young man who was brutally taken away at the very height of his life”.
Family and friends visited vigil in Somerset
Ms Webber said her son’s body would “go home” on Monday.
“It’s going to be the next really important step for us, to know he’s here,” she said.
“We’re still a family of four, just one of us isn’t here right now.”
David Webber says his son is like “glue” to so many different groups of friends
Valdo Calocane, 31, of no fixed address, has been charged with three counts of murder in the murders.
He appeared at Nottingham Magistrates Court on Saturday and spoke only to confirm his name, giving the alias Adam Mendes.
He has been remanded in custody and will face a hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on June 20.
