Tributes to the British victims of Tunisia massacre

Tributes will today be paid to the British citizens who were gunned down while on holiday in Tunisia.
Flowers laid on the beach near the RIU Imperial Marhaba hotel in Sousse, TunisiaFlowers laid on the beach near the RIU Imperial Marhaba hotel in Sousse, Tunisia
Flowers laid on the beach near the RIU Imperial Marhaba hotel in Sousse, Tunisia

Here is a list of the British and Irish citizens confirmed to have died in the Tunisian beach massacre:

The British victims are:

• Joel Richards, 19, a student at the University of Worcester and a talented young football referee, is believed to be the youngest of the British victims killed.

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He was gunned down alongside his uncle Adrian Evans, a manager at Sandwell Council in the West Midlands, and his grandfather Patrick Evans, 78. Joel’s brother Owen, 16, survived the attack.

• Former plumber John Welch, 74, and his partner Eileen Swannack, 73, from Wiltshire. The couple, who had been together eight years, were staying at the RIU Imperial Marhaba, a hotel they “adored” and stayed in every year of their relationship.

• Christopher Bell and his wife Sharon, from Leeds. Their children said they are “deeply saddened by the loss of both mum Sharon and dad Christopher who were taken from us during the terrorist attacks in Tunisia”.

• John Stollery, 58, a social worker from Nottinghamshire, was on holiday with his wife Cheryl and son when he was killed. He worked with children in care at Nottinghamshire County Council, and his wife said “he made a difference and gave his best to others”.

Christopher and Sharon BellChristopher and Sharon Bell
Christopher and Sharon Bell
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• Retired scientist David Thompson, 80, from Tadley, Hampshire. It is understood he used to work for the Atomic Weapons Establishment, and was a keen walker.

• Chris Dyer, 32, an engineer who practised Jiu-Jitsu, from Watford in north London. He was on holiday with his wife Gina Van Dort when he was shot dead. She clung on to her dead husband’s hand as paramedics tried to get her to safety, according to reports.

• Trudy Jones, 51, a divorced single mother-of-four from Gwent, south Wales. Described by her family as “a caring person who put everyone else before herself”, she had been holidaying with friends when she was killed.

• Bruce Wilkinson, 72, a grandfather who is said to be a retired power station worker from Goole, East Yorkshire. He was described by his family as a “kind and compassionate man”.

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• Lisa Burbidge, a grandmother-of-four from Whickham, Gateshead. Her family said she doted on her grandchildren and described her as the “most beautiful, amazing, caring and gentle person in our lives”.

• Carly Lovett, 24, from Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. The fashion blogger, who was on holiday with her fiance Liam, reportedly survived the massacre on the beach only to die when a grenade was thrown into her hotel.

• Former Birmingham City football player Denis Thwaites and his wife Elaine, who lived in Blackpool. Their daughter, Lindsey, said: “Words can’t express what all the family are feeling at this difficult time.”

• Philip Heathcote, 52, from Felixstowe, Suffolk. His wife Allison, 48, was seriously injured in the attack and remains in hospital.

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• Engineer Stephen Mellor, from Bodmin in Cornwall, was killed as he shielded his wife Cheryl on the beach.

• Sue Davey, from Staffordshire, and her partner Scott Chalkley, from Derby. The couple worked for Severn Trent Water who described them as passionate and hugely caring.

• Claire Windass from Hull was killed while her husband Jim is understood to have survived the attack.

• Jim and Ann McQuire, from Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire in Scotland. Mr McQuire was a captain in the Boys’ Brigade, a Christian youth organisation, which said it is “shocked and deeply saddened” by his death.

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• Stuart Cullen, 52, from Lowestoft in Suffolk, is believed to have died instantly. His wife was injured but survived.

• Billy and Lisa Graham, from Perthshire in Scotland. Mr Graham reportedly booked the holiday as a birthday present for his wife, who turned 50 earlier this year.

• Retired printer John Stocker, 74, and his wife, 63 year-old Janet. Their family said the pair “were the happiest, most loving couple”.

• A couple from Leicester, Ray and Angela Fisher, reportedly aged 75 and 69, are still unaccounted for. Their son Adam Fisher, from Redhill in Surrey, has not spoken to his parents since they left for their holiday.

The Irish victims are:

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• Lorna Carty, a mother-of-two from Robinstown, Co Meath. Bishop of Meath Michael Smith said Mrs Carty was the victim of a “senseless killing”.

• Husband and wife Laurence and Martina Hayes, both in their 50s, from Athlone in Co Westmeath. Mr Hayes was a schools transport inspector who worked for Bus Eireann for the last 20 years.

READ MORE ON THE SOUSSE ATTACK...