Tributes have been paid to Nottingham attack victim Ian Coates tonight (Thursday) in a vigil at Old Market Square. The sons of the 65-year-old who died in Tuesday's (June 13) attack appeared onstage wearing Nottingham Forest shirts in honour of his favourite team.
The shirts had 'RIP Dad' printed on the back and the crowd chanted “You Reds” as the three men stood in front of the thousands gathered in the Market Square. The family had asked for mourners to wear Forest shirts in his memory.
Thousands of people gathered for the vigil in memory of school caretaker Ian Coates as well as students Grace O’Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber who were killed in a deadly rampage in the city. The families of the victims sat in front of Nottingham Council House as many stood and watched.
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A minute’s silence was held in memory of the three victims. The silence fell over the city’s Market Square as the Council House’s bells tolled for 6pm. Speaking to the assembled crowd, Ian Coates’ son James promised support to the families of Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber as they paid tribute to their father at a vigil in Nottingham.
Addressing the families, he said: “Obviously they are going through the same thing that we are, anything they need from us we’re happy to support you.”
He thanked everybody for the “kind words” that have poured in about his father.
“It feels like he’s touched a lot of hearts over the years, more than what we assumed and knew that he had, so it’s been really nice and heart-warming to see the messages and people come out and talk about how he was when they were younger and how he’s helped them,” he went on.
“Some beautiful comments. We just wanted to say a quick thing that we’re still dealing with what’s happened, we still haven’t took it all in, so we just wanted to say a few things.
“Dad was an avid fisherman, he loved his family and he also loved his Forest. You Reds.”
Earlier, headteacher of Huntingdon Academy Ross Middleton, where Nottingham attack victim Ian Coates was site manager, said the 65-year-old was “proud” of his grandson.
Paying tribute to the caretaker, Mr Middleton said he was “full of fun with a mischievous glint in his eye”.
He said: “We will all remember him with great affection. Rest in peace Ian, and, of course, I’ll keep an eye on Forest results for you.”
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