They've helped us to carry on (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

They've helped us to carry on

Abbey Mead landlady Carol Tenby with the parents of Jacquie Kent, Valerie and Geoff BarkerTHE parents of murdered bank worker Jacquie Kent say the support of people in Swindon has given them strength to go on.

Geoff and Valerie Barker, of Freshbrook, are still coming to terms with the loss of their 42-year-old daughter.

Jacquie was killed at her home in Abbey Meads on June 28.

Yesterday a week of fundraising activities for her 14-year-old son Daniel at her local pub, The Abbey Mead, came to an end.

And Mrs Barker, 68, said: "Everyone has been so good. It really does help. What's happened is beyond belief but we have to cope and life does go on.

"It's a parent's worst nightmare. I don't think our lives will ever be quite the same. We're devastated of course."

With his dad currently away on holiday in Egypt Daniel is staying with his grandparents.

On Thursday they are taking him on holiday to Lanzarote and they say having their grandson with them has helped them get by.

Mrs Barker said: "Daniel seems to be coping better than us but whether it's really hit him, I don't know.

"Hopefully it'll be nice to get him away for a while. He does seem to be coping well but it's such a big thing in his life.

"Him and his mum were wonderful together.

"There's some good days and some bad days but because of Daniel we just have to keep going.

"It's certainly helped having him with us."

Mrs Barker says she and her husband are still finding it hard with Jacquie gone.

"We did everything with Jacquie and Daniel," she said.

"If we went out for a meal it was with them, if I went to bingo it was with Jacquie.

"I can't face bingo without her. I haven't been able to go."

Last month Daniel celebrated his 14th birthday and his grandmother says it was a testing time for the family.

She said: "I can't thank his friends' parents enough, they have been brilliant.

"His best friend's mum organised a sleep over and luckily he had a wonderful birthday.

"His friends have been brilliant."

For now they are taking each day at a time and they say the kindness of those who have helped raise money for Daniel has been inspiring.

Lyn Babbage, 38 and his partner Carol Temby, 44, run the pub where the activities have been taking place.

And Mr Barker, 70, said: "What can you say about what people gave been doing? It's fantastic. People we don't know have been supporting us. You've got to carry on and this helps."

Mrs Barker added: "It does help knowing that people do care.

"It does give you the strength to go on. She was so kind and so well loved.

"Everybody loved Jacquie. Everybody she met loved her.

"Everyone has been so good to us and it does really help."

Michael Wyatt, 47, of Danestone Close, Middleleaze, will appear at Bristol Crown Court on Friday accused of Jacquie's murder. He has not yet entered a plea.