Mother of Nottingham stabbing victim pays emotional tribute to ‘extraordinary’ son

Hundreds of people have gathered to remember teenager Barnaby Webber, who was one of three people killed in the Nottingham stabbings last month.

The mother of the deceased Nottingham University student, Emma Webber, fought back tears as she described her son, who died aged 19, as ”extraordinary”.

She was addressing the congregation in Taunton Minster in Somerset where around 600 people had gathered for the funeral, including many of Barnaby’s friends and relatives.

The service comes after Valdo Calocane, 31, was charged with the murder of the student and his friend, Grace O’Malley, plus school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, after they were fatally stabbed in the early hours of 14 June.

Grace’s family was also at the service on Friday.

Paying tribute to her son, Ms Webber said she was ”so very thankful” for all the memories she has of her son, which are ”etched into her soul”, adding she is ”so glad” she took lots of photos and selfies with Barnaby.

She told how proud she was of her son, and explained while he ”wasn’t always heaped in adulation” and ”won lots of awards”, her ”ordinary boy was anything but that”, adding ”his ordinary was in fact what made him extraordinary”.

Ms Webber also described Barnaby as a ”genuine article” and said nobody can ”take her pain away”, adding: “If you imagine our world as a clear night sky, it is seemingly completely black, however, if you stop for long enough, you’ll begin to see very small moments of light, like a shooting star, or a distant planet.”

She also remembered the other victims of the attack, saying: “We’ve been fortunate to spend time with Grace’s family recently and while I’m so desperately sorry I never got to meet her in person, I do feel a connection to you Grace.

“I’m so honoured to have had the pleasure to meet your mum, your dad and James and even your cats and Ruso your dog.

“I can see why Barnaby thought so highly of you.”

Barnaby’s father, David Webber, told the congregation his son was a “beautiful boy” who was ”patient and caring”.

He also urged mourners to try and be like his son, saying: “I’d like everyone to maybe think about how we act in our day-to-day lives, and be a little bit more patient and caring with others.”

Barnaby’s brother, Charlie, also addressed mourners in an emotional speech, saying he had an “unbreakable bond” with his sibling.

He said: “I want to talk about the role you played in my life, you’re the only reason I have the confidence to stand here today.

“When we were younger, you were always the person I went to. You were like a final piece of what seems like an unsolvable puzzle and you always found a way to make it right. You being gone is like trying to finish that puzzle without the most important piece – it just doesn’t seem to work, and I don’t think it ever will.”

He also recalled how his brother stood his ground and did not run away when he was attacked, saying he ”died being the person you always were, my hero”.

Barnaby’s wicker coffin was brought into the church to music by Annie Lennox, with her song “Into The West”.

The service was led by the Right Reverend Ruth Worsley, the Bishop of Taunton.

The minster choir sang “Amazing Grace” before mourners heard tributes from Barnaby’s former teachers and friends at Taunton School and university colleagues.

At the request of the Webber family, the congregation then loudly sang his favourite hymn, “Jerusalem”.

Grace and Barnaby were killed in Nottingham City Centre while on the way home from a night out at around 4am.

The body of the third victim, Mr Coates, was found about two miles away.

Mr Calocane, a former University of Nottingham student, was also charged with three counts of attempted murder after Mr Coates’s van was stolen and attempted to run over three people following the stabbings.

Additional reporting by Press Association.