Express & Star

'A lovely couple happy to help their friends': Devastated neighbours speak after Stourbridge stabbings

Dozens of bouquets of flowers, many with heartbreaking handwritten tributes, have been left at the scene of the tragedy in Stourbridge where a mother and her teenage son were killed yesterday.

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Stabbing victims – Mr Wilkinson and teenage son Pierce

As neighbours were coming to terms with the triple stabbing this morning, father Peter Wilkinson was in a critical but stable condition in hospital as officers continued to quiz the man suspected of attacking the family.

Peter and Tracey Wilkinson were known as a couple who would go out of their way to help others, and neighbours have only had good things to say about the 'lovely' family who shared their street.

Albion fan Peter, managing director of a manufacturing business, and his wife Tracey, had moved into their large Gothic-style house, called Rathmore Lodge, in Greyhound Lane, Norton, Stourbridge, at least 10 years ago and set about a major refurbishment of the property.

  • UPDATE: School pays tribute to 'loyal, caring' Pierce as father Peter remains in hospital

Neighbour Colin Giles, 82, a retired toolsetter, said he took in parcels for the couple.

"They were out a lot, and were always very grateful to me, insisting on coming over to save me carrying any heavy packages.

"Only recently Peter saw me trying to clean my drive and and said 'That's no way to do it' and gave me a power tool to jet spray it. They were a lovely couple."

The tragedy that struck their quiet, residential road, was not at first apparent but very quickly the community realised that something serious had taken place.

  • MORE: Teenager killed alongside mother named as suspect is grilled by police

  • MORE: Updates from the scene of the stabbing, pictures and video of the press conference

The couple's 13-year-old son, named locally as Pierce, suffered critical stab injuries in the attack.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, witnessed the police pursuit as he made his way to a doctor's appointment.

"I turned on to Norton Road at around 8.30am and saw the police chasing a car.

"I recognised the car as belonging to my neighbours Peter and Tracey, and put two and two together after seeing police cars and ambulances at their home about half an hour earlier.

"Although my wife and I only knew the couple to say hello to, they seemed very nice. We're shocked by what's happened."

Victim Pierce Wilkinson, and the scene of the crash which followed the murders

His wife said: "Tracey was a very glamorous and well-dressed woman. She was tall, dark and thin and used to dance, not professionally but to a high level. She was very striking but always friendly.

"She used to have a coffee and a glass of wine with one of my neighbours, who knew her better. They came to a party at our house years ago, so they were sociable."

Mr Wilkinson was a regular visitor at his local, The New Inn, often accompanied by his daughter, now in her first year at Bristol University. The two were said by staff to be 'inseparable.'

A devastated staff member said: "They were an absolutely lovely family, I can't believe it. He and his daughter would come to the pub around two or three times a week, they were inseparable.

"They absolutely love the Albion and have an Albion reg plate and sticker on the car. They used to come here, the whole family, on Christmas Day."

Ward councillor Colin Elcock, who visited the scene, was visibly shaken when he was told of the fatalities.

The family's dog is led away from the home

He told the Express & Star: "I came down because I heard something terrible had happened from a colleague, but it wasn't until I got here that I realised how terrible.

"I had only been with Tracey last week at a ward meeting where she was, as always, very supportive of me.

"They were a lovely couple. Peter was a businessman, and used to travel a lot to the USA and Europe with his job, but both he and Tracey helped me deliver pamphlets for the Mayoral elections."

Forensic officers at the scene

Neighbour Jean Webb said: "I've only lived here for 10 months so I didn't really know the family. I thought I was coming to a nice quiet road – this is awful."

A neighbour, whose house overlooks the Wilkinsons' neat red-brick home, said: "If a dreadful attack like this can happen here in Greyhound Road, it can happen anywhere."

A resident, who asked not to be named, said: "I realised something was wrong when I heard sirens and lots of noise around 8am.

"This might be a quiet residential road but I've been burgled twice in 20 years and an elderly lady across the road has been burgled at knifepoint."

A post on the Hall Green Retired Greyhound Trust (RGT) Facebook page last night said: "The RGT Head Office are liaising with the authorities to assist with the dog while the rest of the family get to grips with this tragedy. Our thoughts are with the family tonight."

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