Father of teenage Nottingham attacks victim encourages funeral mourners to 'be a little bit more Barney'

In the pouring rain, a town came out to say goodbye.

Hundreds of people – Barnaby’s family, teachers and friends from Taunton School, as well as friends from the University of Nottingham – filled Taunton Minster this morning for the 90-minute service.

Many more gathered outside, huddled under umbrellas to watch as the service was displayed on large screens.

The silence from the crowd was palpable, as we listened to the heartbreaking, heart warming stories about a young man who was so clearly loved by all who knew him.

His friends talked about having lost a “brother”, a man who was unendingly loyal, with whom “not a single day went by when he didn’t make you laugh”.

“Barney was the kind of friend you only have once in your life,” they said.

All talked about his unparalleled love of, and ability for, sport. He was “talented and annoyingly good at everything he did”.

“I can’t believe I’m never going to step onto the cricket pitch again with my best mate. I love you.”

His teachers remembered a young, intelligent man whose schooling was just a small part of a huge world.

His teacher in history – the subject Barnaby went on to study in Nottingham – described him as “engaged, joyous and committed”.

“We should be grateful that we caught a glimpse, because it was a brilliant, dazzling glimpse.”

“We can never emulate such a belting human being as Barney, but in striving to do so we will be kinder and better people, and I think Barney would like that,” he said.

Another teacher said he was a “truly wonderful human being”.

The most moving moment came when his parents David and Emma paid tribute to their “beautiful boy”, and brother Charlie Webber spoke – with much laughter and applause – about his “best friend”.

David said he has been “besotted” with his son since his birth 19 years ago.

In going to university his son had “flown higher than I could ever have imagined”.

“Barney’s approach to life was, if he liked you, he liked you. He was always the one who went to friends who were different or didn’t quite fit,” he said.

“It makes us so proud as parents that he was like this.”

After recounting some anecdotes from holidays and memories of his son, he says: “I’d like everyone to maybe think about how we act in our day-to-day lives, and be a little bit more patient and caring with others.

“Maybe, be a little bit more Barney.”

Charlie said his brother was “the only reason I have the confidence to stand here today”.

“When we were younger, you were always the person I went to if I was scared of something or had a tough decision to make.”

He said when he first learned the news of what happened in Nottingham, he said he “wanted to set the world on fire”.

“I was angry at everyone, angry at myself for not being there, angry at you for not running.

“However, now I realise that that anger is really pride.

“The pride I feel that you didn’t run, you didn’t hide. You stood your ground and died being the person you always were. My hero.”

Emma Webber paused her speech about her “extraordinary” and “beautiful boy” to pay tribute to the other victims on that awful night in Nottingham.

Barnaby was killed alongside medical student Grace O’Malley-Kumar, 19, as the friends walked home from a night out; 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates was also killed around an hour later.

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She said: “We’ve been fortunate to spend time with Grace’s family recently and whilst I am so desperately sorry I never got to meet her in person, I do feel a connection to you Grace.

After recalling fond memories from a trip to Nottingham two weeks before his death, Emma said: “There are countless stories I could share with you… I am so very thankful for each and every one that we have had.

“Nobody can begin to take our pain away,” she said.

Describing their world as having a “completely black sky”, she said: “I know that we have a very long and painful road ahead of us but I am still looking up into that sky and I know one day the dawn will break for us again.”

Speaking through tears, she said: “We remain a family of four, just one of us isn’t here right now.

An inquest into the deaths heard the three victims had died as a result of stab wounds.

Valdo Calocane, 31, is charged with murder and the attempted murder of three pedestrians by driving a van into them in the city centre.

Calocane, who has identified himself as Adam Mendes in previous court appearances, will face trial in January next year, pending a plea hearing on 25 September.

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