‘Look after each other, my Bears’
AGRIEVING wife and mother has paid moving tribute to her “wonderful” husband and “fab” son who tragically died on Sunday after being hit by a car.
Stuart Bates, 43, and his seven-year-old son Fraser, from Llanishen, Cardiff, were crossing the A4119 at Talbot Green when they were hit by an Alfa Romeo car at around 12.30am.
According to the family’s parish priest, the pair had been on their way to a friend’s house following a charity event.
Mr Bates was taken to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, near Llantrisant, where he died of his injuries and Fraser died on Sunday evening at Bristol Children’s Hospital.
Mr Bates’ wife and Fraser’s mother Anna-Louise, in a statement released yesterday by South Wales Police, paid glowing tribute to the pair.
“Stu was my ‘Mr Wonderful’,” she said. “Fraser was ‘our Bear’ and his initials spelled out F.A.B. – he was indeed FAB by name and FAB by nature.
“Together with three-yearold Elizabeth we were a family of four but I know everybody we met over the years became part of our extended family.
“I know they will both be singing ‘Forever Young’ and playing football with Fraser’s hero, Duncan Edwards, in heaven. Look after each other my ‘bears’.”
Mr Bates was an IT programme manager at PHS in Caerphilly and Fraser was a pupil in year two at Llysfaen Primary School in Lisvane.
Melanie Sancto, the school’s headteacher, said Fraser was a much-loved “happy and funny” child.
“Fraser was a bottle of pop, a fun-loving, beautiful little boy,” she said. “He had lots of friends and was so well thought of by everyone here. We will all remember him as happy, funny and, most of all, football mad. The game was a huge part of Fraser’s and Stuart’s lives. Stuart played a big part in the school community as well. He was very much involved in school life.
“Our heartfelt thoughts, support and love go out to AnnaLouise and the family.”
Mr Bates had helped raise money for the charity 2Wish Upon A Star by taking part in the “Wickets n Wheels” event in memory of Paul and George Burke.
According to Father Irving Hamer, the Parish priest at St Martin Church in Roath, Cardiff, the pair had been to a charity event before the fatal accident.
On a Facebook post, Father Hamer said: “May God grant Stuart and Fraser eternal peace and their family the strength and grace to bear this burden and sorrow in the time to come.”
The force is continuing to appeal for anyone who saw the collision or has any information to call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
The driver of the Alfa Romeo, a 22-year-old man, has been arrested and has been assisting police with their inquiries.