TRIBUTES TO ‘A GOOD MAN’
FAMILY’S GRIEF FOR RESPECTED 88-YEAR-OLD CHURCHGOER WHO DIED IN VALLEYS VILLAGE SHOP STABBING
A CHURCHGOING pensioner who died after he was stabbed in a village Co-op has been remembered as “the very definition of a good man” by his grieving family.
“Proud Welshman” John Rees, 88, died during the incident at the convenience store in Penygraig, Rhondda, at Tuesday lunchtime.
Mr Rees, who lived in the nearby village of Trealaw with his wife Eunice, was a regular worshipper at All Saints Church.
In a statement released by South Wales Police yesterday, Mr Rees’ family said: “John was the very definition of a good man, extremely respected and liked in the community.
“He was proud of his family, proud to be a Welshman and devoted to All Saints Church. We will all miss him terribly.”
A 29-year-old woman from Porth had been arrested on suspicion of murder. She yesterday remained in custody at Merthyr Tydfil police station.
Heartfelt tributes have been paid to Mr Rees from across the community.
George Price, 69, lives in Trealaw and sells fruit from a stall at the bottom of Birthweunydd Road.
He said Mr Rees would visit his stall regularly on his walk to All Saints.
“You wouldn’t wish for a nicer man,” he said. “He would go to the chapel every day.
“I met him when I was 12. I have lived in Trealaw all my life. He was a lovely man. It’s a sin that this has happened to him. He would pass this stall and he would go to the shop for his newspaper. Everybody knew him. I have never known a nicer chap.”
Local Plaid Cymru councillor Joshua Davies tweeted: “My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of John Rees from Trealaw. Rest in Peace John.”
Floral tributes have been left outside the convenience store at Penygraig, near Tonypandy, and also at All Saints Church.
One said: “Our hearts go out for John and his beloved wife Eunice and family. We are all heartbroken. Such a lovely, lovely gentleman, kind and caring, so so sad. God bless.
“Thanks for being the lovely man who has rang our church bells every Thursday night for the NHS. You will be very sadly missed by everyone.”
A neighbour of Mr Rees, Tracey Goodridge, said he was a carer for his wife and that he was “a gentleman” who would “help anybody”.
“It’s just so sad and unbelievable. The church bells at the end of the street, he’d be there doing them. And couldn’t wait for the services to start back – he loved his church,” she told ITV Wales.
Eyewitnesses described seeing people fleeing the store after reports of a woman in the store with a knife.
One man remained in a stable condition in hospital yesterday. Two other people suffered non-lifethreatening injuries.
One of those injured was 53-yearold nurse Lisa Way.
Grandmother Lisa works at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant. She was treated at the hospital where she works for non lifethreatening injuries.
Her husband Carl, 53, said he was too upset to talk about what happened, other than to say: “It is bad but we’ll just leave it there.”
A neighbour said: “Lisa just popped down the Co-op and this happens.
“It is just terrible especially when you think what the NHS is going through at the moment. Its devastating.
“Thank God that we’ve been told she will pull through. But it is going to have a terrible effect on her.”
As the local community comes to terms with what happened, Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for Rhondda, has written to the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board asking that specialist support services are made available for those who witnessed the incident.
South Wales Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, but did not say why.
Officers from South Wales Police returned to Tylacelyn Road yesterday to continue with their investigation. The police cordon in the street has been removed but the Co-op store remains closed.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark O’Shea, who is leading the investigation, said: “This is a very tragic incident and we are continuing to investigate circumstances surrounding the matter.
“Our sympathies are with Mr Rees’ family at this very distressing time for them and they are being supported by specially trained officers. This incident has understandably caused a lot of shock in the local community and I want to reassure residents that a full investigation is under way.”
Uniformed officers will continue to maintain a visible presence in the area.
Divisional commander Chief Superintendent Dorian Lloyd added: “Tuesday’s horrific incident in Penygraig was extremely distressing and shocking for the local community.
“I would like to pay tribute to the members of the public and police officers for their efforts at the scene, rendering first aid to those involved in this incident.
“Penygraig is a small close-knit community which has been put into the national spotlight in such tragic circumstances.
“I would like to reassure the local community that the police response to the incident was extremely swift and officers were at the scene within minutes.
“We will continue to maintain a visible presence to support those in the area as they try and come to terms with what has happened.
“My thoughts and condolences remain with the victim’s family and all those affected by this incident at a very sad time.”
South Wales Police is urging any witnesses who have not yet come forward to contact them and is also appealing for anyone with mobile phone footage of the incident to get in touch.