Fuller family tragedy: Children in the arms of angels now

THE mother of three children found dead alongside their father said she simply did not have words to describe her devastation.

As classmates across the Forest of Dean remembered Sam, 12, Rebecca, eight, and seven-year-old Charlotte Fuller, yesterday, mum Ruth issued a statement that said: "l don't have the words to describe how I feel at the moment.

"All I would ask is that I be left alone to grieve for my family."

The three siblings are thought to have been stabbed at a woodland beauty spot near Shrewsbury in Shropshire. The body of their father Ceri Fuller was also found nearby. Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with their deaths.

The family yesterday said they were "devastated" but also paid tribute to Ceri as a "gentle" father.

Ceri's dad David Fuller, from Hereford, issued a statement on their behalf of the whole family that read: "The Fuller and Tocknell families are devastated by this tragedy.

"Ceri was a gentle, sensitive and intelligent man but also a very private one. He loved his children dearly and they were such a focal point of his life.

"His relationship with each one of them was one of gentleness, involvement and attentive nurturing. Sam, Rebecca and Charlie were such charming individuals, brought up in an environment of love.

"We cannot begin to imagine what was going through the mind of this gentle man to drive him to such tragic actions.

"We would ask all to respect our privacy at this time while we try to come to terms with this terrible loss."

At Sam's school, Lakers at Five Acres, Coleford, a flag was flown at half mast.

Friends of the 12-year-old bowed their heads as they wept in total silence. Flowers were placed at the bottom of the mast.

All 188 pupils from St John's Primary School attended a memorial service in memory of pupils Rebecca, nicknamed as Becka, and Charlotte, also known as Charlie, and their older brother.

Yesterday's service at St John the Evangelist Church, a stone's throw from their school, was led by associate priest Alan Wearmouth.

He said: "It was very emotional and very moving.

"We tried to deal with the bad feelings people brought with them and also the good memories and happy thoughts that they remember too.

"The children are coming to terms with it, but there were a few tears. We are trying to restore some stability."

It is understood both head teachers spoke at the service, and tributes from the children were read out too. Around a dozen pupils from Lakers attended.

The Reverend Doctor Sandra Millar was also present at the service. She said: "For some of the little ones, it does go over their heads a little bit, but the others are coming to terms with the fact that there are two of their friends no longer here.

"We invited all of the children to hold paper petals and concentrate their sad, mad and bad feelings into them. We then collected them and laid them at the front of the church."

One parent at Lakers School, who did not want to be named, said: "My son was in Sam's year, and although I didn't know him too well, he seemed like a lovely little boy.

"It is so tragic, I can't imagine what the mother must be going through right now."

Stephen and Louise Toomer, from Coleford, visited St John's yesterday afternoon to sign a book of condolence the church had set up.

Their daughter Abbie, 13, was in the year above Sam at Lakers School.

She said: "He used to hang around with a friend of mine at break times. He was a nice lad."

Her younger sister Cerys, aged nine, also signed the book.

Mr Toomer worked with Ceri at Glatfelter paper mill and said: "He was a normal bloke, quite quiet but just normal. This is all crazy. I can't get my head around it."

Meanwhile, at the Fuller home in Milkwall, flowers had been laid outside the gates while police searched the property.

One message simply said: "Three angels god bless." Another said: "Sleep tight little ones."

Neighbours believe the family moved to the area in November.

One pensioner, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "Everyone is pretty local around here, and everyone knows everyone.

"But to be honest I couldn't have even told you how many kids they had, we never saw them."

Meanwhile, people have flocked to internet websites in order to leave their own tributes, including on a Facebook page called Rest in Peace the Fuller Children, Sam, Becka and Charlotte.

Jayne Preston said: "May they rest in peace, so young and innocent. God bless you. Sincere sympathies to family and friends xx."

Shan Evans said: "R.i.p little darlings! May u rest forever in the arms of angels xxxx."

David Vidali said: "It's really sad. May God strengthen the family members and friends. Rest in peace."