Keith Soons' partner to lay plaque at murder spot
EVERY night, young Tilly Soons kisses a picture of her dad goodnight.
The two-year-old will never get to know her father Keith, after he was killed and taken away from her.
Yesterday marked the two-year anniversary of his murder, in Wellington Lane, Cheltenham.
Killers Ricky Smith and Michael Sexton, who stabbed him with a screwdriver and left him for dead, were jailed for a total of 53 years.
Tilly was just eight months old when her father died.
Her mother Sam Ramsey yesterday said that the youngster, who is now almost three, knows who her daddy was.
Sam added: "Tilly is too young to understand anything yet but she will know everything eventually.
"I'm not sure how I am going to tell her yet.
"But she knows who her daddy was.
"There is a picture of Keith in her bedroom and I tell her every night to kiss him goodnight."
Sam is heading down to the spot where Keith died on Saturday with Tilly and some close friends.
They will be releasing Chinese lanterns as well as marking the spot with a specially-made plaque.
"On Keith's gravestone, there is no mention of Tilly," said Sam. "We are taking down a plaque with Tilly's hand print on it, which we want to leave at the spot.
"I expect we will be there all day, just remembering Keith.
"A woman who lives nearby has planted a rosebush there as well. She had asked me after Keith died what his favourite flowers were and, when I told her roses, she planted the bush.
"It will be nice to see how they have grown."
Since Keith's death, Sam has also ploughed her time into a new business venture, which she admitted has helped her to move on with her life.
With colleague Robin Ritchie, she has launched the Tewkesbury Mustard Company.
The firm makes the town's famous mustard using ancient traditional methods.
Sam said: "It has helped me in lots of ways by giving me something to focus on. I think everything happens for a good reason. It is about time something good happened."
11 Comments
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by TewkesMustard
Thursday, April 04 2013, 1:29PM
“Just to set the story straight, lanterns weren't set off at all. A plaque was laid on the grave made by daughter Matilda until a solid one can be. Sam & close friends visited the grave, candles were lit & flowers were laid. Lanterns were never going to be let off where it would be have been dangerous, just a simple meeting of good friends and a few tears spent with a sorely missed father,friend & family member.”
by trooper89
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 8:24PM
“i agree with glawsterman mr soons died in hospital not in wellington lane so if they wish to lay a plaque it should be at his grave side after all that is where he was laid to rest.”
by Glawsterman
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 7:36PM
“I just don't get the idea of plaques etc at the place where someone was killed, I would rather remember a loved one in a happier place with happier memories than where they last were living.”
by hamster11
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 7:20PM
“What were once often interesting comments Alfredo will always be tainted by the fact you're bit of a pratt.”
by wubblyjubbly
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 4:38PM
“@alfredo there was no need for the way your first post was worded. It comes across as sarcastic and insenstive. Instead why didn't you suggest another way for the poor family to remember their husband and daddy?
The family might not be aware of the dangers of Chinese lanterns or if they are illegal but the way you came across is not helpful at all to them, as I'm sure they will be reading these comments.
Maybe you should think how you come across before posting.”
by Alfredo_
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 3:41PM
“@voodooprince - whether the murder was shocking or not is irrelevant, and no one's disputing that it was.
Read these:
http://tinyurl.com/a78pg72
http://tinyurl.com/43495bt
http://tinyurl.com/awzemlm
http://tinyurl.com/bj96r3w
http://tinyurl.com/aqswu58
http://tinyurl.com/aro9ka7”
by voodooprince
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 1:33PM
“Alfredo and raidermanuk your comments on here are so typical of the preaching idiots who drag the story to their own agenda of legality, practicality or just that they no better! You'll be blaimng immingrants next. Chinese Lanterns once caused a house fire? A cricket umpire was once killed when a splinter from a struck wicket severed his jugular! Do you expect Cricket to be banned?
I never knew Keith Soons but his murder was shocking and affected me and many others in Cheltenham and was reported literally all over the country. How do you idiots think it affected this poor young family? How dare you make comments like that let alone begrudge a little girl and her mother when they mark the anniversary of such a tragic event and simply lose the simple focus of the story which is that 2 people are attempting to come to terms with such a loss
Sam, I hope what you do on Saturday takes away some of the pain even if at the time it will be hard! Ignore these people they are just dead inside!”
by Alfredo_
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 11:29AM
“@hamster11 - it's litter, and, I suspect, illegal to release these things in a town centre. That has no bearing on this tragedy whatsoever.”
by raidermanuk
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 10:45AM
“Alfredo does have a point. After a house fire last year caused by one of these lanters Trowbridge fire service said "the lamps should only be released in still conditions and away from any homes or other obstacles".”
by hamster11
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 10:01AM
“Often your comments are interesting and I agree with them but you should be ashamed of that one Alfredo; after such a terrible tragedy and a young girl growing up never knowing what it's like to have her Daddy tuck her in and read a story to her I think they're allowed to let off the odd chinese lantern off. Badly misjudged.”