http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/hillsborough-inquests-continue-more-personal-7033111Margaret Aspinall speaks of son James at Hillsborough inquestsMargaret Aspinall, chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, was among the family members reading tributes to their loved ones in court today.
In her statement she said being allowed to speak about her son James at the inquests had given the family a shard of light in the darkness that followed his death.
A father also paid tribute to his football-mad son Kevin Tyrrell, who had been undergoing trials at Tranmere Rovers FC before he died in the disaster.
The court heard about 12 of the 96 victims and more will be read out when the inquests resume on Monday.
A sister spoke lovingly of her brother who died aged 19 at Hillsborough.
Karen Staniford said Gary Church, a joiner from Seaforth, was one of four siblings and a “lovely child” who never caused their mum and dad trouble.
As a child he was a typical young boy who loved to play and watch football.
Mrs Staniford said Gary was very close to his parents and had a “very special father and son relationship” with his dad, who he enjoyed making things with.
Shortly before his death they made a coffee table, which still takes pride of place in his dad’s house.
The court heard Gary loved to play and watch football and was popular at school, with Mrs Staniford describing her brother as a “real little charmer” with the girls.
She continued: "As well as being the best brother I could ever have wished for Gary was a loving uncle to my three children.”
She told the court of a memory she has of seeing him with her twins when they were six, carrying Christopher on his shoulders and holding Claire's hand.
She said: "It was such a lovely sight to see how much he loved them and the children equally adored him."
Mrs Staniford said her brother was “one in a million" with a wonderful smile.
He died at Hillsborough along with his friend Christopher Devonside.
Mrs Staniford said Gary’s death “devastated many people”. She said: "It's hard to put into words just how much Gary was loved and is missed every day."
She added: "To this day I live just a few doors away from the family home I shared with Gary as we were growing up and each day I look out of my window expecting Gary to come home."
A mum who struggled to cope with the heartbreak of losing her son at Hillsborough, died 18 years later on the anniversary of the disaster.
Paul Hewiston, 26, from Crosby, was remembered in court today by his sisters Tracy and Debbie.
Reading their statement to the jury, Tracy Phelan said: “Paul was a handsome, witty, charismatic young man.”
She said he completed trials for Everton, but his loyalty to Liverpool FC affected his commitment to the team.
Shortly before Hillsborough he had started his own roofing business and was in a relationship with a “wonderful woman”, Bernadette.
Mrs Phelan said: “That Saturday morning I watched our Paul singing as he ironed his shirt and pants, excited at the prospect of going to the semi final, but equally looking forward to meeting his girlfriend after the game as they had planned to go for a meal."
He never got to fulfill dreams of having a family.
Mrs Phelen said Paul brought laughter, fun and love into the family and they were blessed to have him in their lives.
She said Paul was the light of his mum's life: "Each year, as April 15 drew closer, we would see our mum and dads’ sadness increase and the grief that was so clearly etched onto our little mum's face would become more apparent.
"Her heart was broken and it remained broken for the rest of her life.
"On 15 April 1989, we not only lost a wonderful brother, we also lost a mother and 18 years later to the day, she too passed away."
A teenager who died at Hillsborough told his mum he loved her everyday.
Patricia Harrison said something died in her family, the day Peter was killed in the disaster.
In her statement, which was read to the court by a legal representative, Mrs Harrison said when Peter was born, he was the longest baby she’d ever seen. He was just 15 when he died but had already reached 6ft 4ins.
“I wonder how tall he would have ended up,” she said.
The court heard Mrs Harrison was not married when she had Peter and for seven years it was just the two of them.
She said: “This meant he was my friend.”
Mrs Harrison later married husband John, who adopted Peter and had two other sons.
Peter, from Page Moss, was also close to his grandparents and Mrs Hewitson said her parents had not been the same he died.
In her statement, Mrs Harrison said: “Peter was lovely and loved his family, especially his brothers.
"He told me he loved me every day and was at the heart of the house and our lives, we loved and worshipped him."
Shortly before Hillsborough, Peter left school and had planned to go to college in Jersey and stay with his uncle.
Mrs Harrison said: “I think he would have made his fortune there.
"It feels very strange that I did not get to see him grow up.”
The family bought Peter a season ticket the Christmas before he died and he was buried with it.
Mrs Harrison said the family still meet every year on Peter's birthday to look at photos and tell stories about him.
"Something died in the family when Peter died.
"What happened was terrible, but we all try to remember the good times.
"I often go to his room, which still has his bed and bedside table."
A man who died in the Hillsborough disaster would have celebrated his 50th birthday next month.
Sue Roberts, secretary of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, told the court about her brother Graham, 24, from Wallasey.
Speaking on behalf of her mum and dad, who have since passed away, Ms Roberts said: “It is my belief that they are looking down on us all from heaven along with my brother Graham, the other 95 victims of this awful day, and also the other parents, family members, friends and survivors who have passed away prematurely due to their torment caused by the loss and trauma of the last 25 years."
Ms Roberts said Graham left school at 16 and got an apprenticeship with British Gas. By the time of his death, he had a senior role at the company.
He was engaged to Sandra Hattersley and their wedding was booked for the summer of 1990.
They had already chosen their first home and Ms Roberts recalls on the morning of the Hillsborough disaster, they had a letter to say the contract on the house was ready.
Sandra asked him to miss the game so they could go and sign the documents, but Graham just laughed.
Ms Roberts told the court: "He said it was the semi final and they could sign for the house on Monday instead."
She said Sandra's relatives were looking forward to welcoming him into their family.
“I am sure you will agree with me that Graham had so much to live for and an exciting future ahead of him,” she added.
"Both my parents are now reunited with their beloved son, which sadly, since his death, was all they wanted."
Margaret Aspinall, chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said being allowed to speak about her son James in court has finally given the family a shard of light amongst the darkness.
Her statement was read to the court by James’s brother David.
The court heard the 18-year-old from Huyton fell in love with football when he went to a Liverpool FC match in 1978 and saw the Reds beat Tottenham Hotspur 7-0.
He loved going on family holidays to Wales, so he could spend time with nature.
David recounted a story about James being taught to swim by his dad on holiday in Spain, and realising when his dad stepped back into the deep end that his dad was unable to swim himself.
He said: “Many years later dad could only watch from the side pen of Leppings Lane terrace as his eldest son's future disappeared in such harrowing circumstances, powerless to help his son when it was most needed."
His dad has not attended a football match since that day.
The court heard James left school at 16 and worked at a car dealership before getting a job as a shipping clerk.
He loved singer Chris de Burgh and played his song Sailing Away so often that mum Margaret could often be heard in the house shouting, "I wish Chris de Burgh would sail away".
David described his eldest brother as "selfless".
Reading his mum’s statement he said: "A darkness fell over our family on April 15, 1989 and it is only being here now, being allowed to describe what a decent human James was, that has given our family a shard of light into that darkness.
"James has been carried in our hearts every day for the past 25 years. He will always be loved for who he was and what he meant to each and every one of his family."
The court listened to two statements about Michael Kelly, 39, from Old Swan.
The first was written by daughter Joanna Kelly and read by Anna Morris.
Joanna was 13 when her dad Michael died.
When she was young he moved away from her and her mum in Torquay after their marriage broke down, but he still visited.
She said she associates her dad with fun and laughter and still feels his loss profoundly.
In her statement, Joanna said: "I only have lovely, tender memories of my dad.
"I still feel the loss of my dad profoundly. He and I were robbed of a relationship, from my growing into a teenager, a woman, a mother and welcoming him and meeting my two children, his grandchildren, and watching them grow."
Michael’s brother Steve Kelly also read a personal statement he’d written.
He said: "Hillsborough victim, one of the 96. In death he became body number 72, also the last Hillsborough victim to be claimed by his family.
"Yet another statistic. All descriptions that identify body number 72."
He added: "I want to remove that sequence of numbers from him. I am here today to reclaim my brother."
Mr Kelly said Mike was quiet and a loner. He was happy reading his book and also loved music and football.
When he was 19 he joined the Navy.
Mr Kelly would write to Mike every week and he would promise to bring him back a parrot from Africa.
After leaving the Navy Mike travelled the country in seach of work.
He married and had daughter Joanna but later divorced and moved to Bristol in 1985, where he got a permanent job.
Mr Kelly said he is not in contact with his niece Joanna.
He said: "I think of her often and always wonder does she think of her dad."
He added: "I hope by the end of these proceedings she will learn the truth about what happened to her dad. She needs to know Mike, her dad, was not a hooligan.
"He got caught up in something out of his control, something he could not have envisaged and therefore was not prepared for.
"He was such an experienced football fan I still torment myself wondering how Mike became a victim of the dreadful events of April 15, 1989."
He added: "Mike was a real man, father, son, brother, friend.
"In some ways I did not realise how close we were until he was gone. I still miss him.
"He was not just one of the 96, not just body number 72 - he was our Mike and he is much loved and much missed.
"I said earlier I came here to reclaim him. I hope the decision of this inquest allows me that. Only then can Mike rest in peace."
A teenager who died at Hillsborough said it was the best day of his life when he got tickets for the game.
Mum Edna Murray today told the jury her son Paul, 14, leapt into the air with joy when the tickets arrived by post on his birthday three days before the disaster.
Paul, from Stoke-on-Trent, was an avid Liverpool fan and excited about going to watch the match with his dad.
Mrs Murray said Paul was very popular in school and enjoyed swimming, cooking and was in the church choir.
After he died the elderly lady who lived next door told his parents how he would often run down the hill to help carry her shopping bags and sit on her garden wall describing the plants to her, because she was almost blind.
After his death his two schools organised special awards in his memory.
Mrs Murray said they agreed to them as long as they were given to the pupil who was the most helpful, reliable, always smiling and a pleasure to have in school - just like Paul.
The awards are still given to this day.
Mrs Murray said: "Paul often said he wanted to be famous. In a strange way his wish was granted in a part of Stoke-on-Trent."
A dad paid tribute to his football-mad son who died at Hillsborough.
Frank Tyrrell’s statement about his son Kevin, 15, from Runcorn, was read by uncle Gerard Tyrrell.
The court heard Kevin was a polite young man who never got into trouble, in or out of school.
His dad said he could always be found on the field at the back of his house playing football.
He played for his school teams and three months before Hillsborough began playing for Tranmere Rovers under-15s.
At the time of the disaster he was undergoing trials for Tranmere and was hoping to be signed for their training scheme.
Kevin’s younger brother Gary looked up to him and went on to be a semi-professional footballer.
When Kevin started going to Anfield at the age of 13, his dad said they never worried he wouldn't be safe.
Hillsborough was his first away game.
Mr Tyrrell said: "We never expected our son to go to a football match and never come home, but sadly that is what happened.
"In the early hours of April 16, after identifying Kevin I went to touch my son only to be told that I couldn't as he now belonged to the coroner.
"He didn't. He belonged to me and my wife and he was Gary and Donna's brother."
A man died at Hillsborough shortly before his 25th wedding anniversary.
Reading a personal statement about her father Henry, who died aged 47, Christine Burke said a surprise party had been planned and a holiday to Rome booked for her parents who met aged 21.
Miss Burke said: "Our dad was my mum's rock and life and they used to do everything together."
She said he was also a devoted father to his three children.
"I used to confide in my dad and there have been many occasions since his passing that I have wanted to turn to him for advice,” she added.
Miss Burke said she was a "real daddy's girl".
She said: "He used to always say that one day he'd give me a big white wedding that every daughter dreamed of, but that day never came and I have never been able to get married as it's something I will never be able to do without my dad."
Henry also spent a lot of time with his son Ian who worked with him as an apprentice in the building trade, when he turned 16.
Miss Burke said they used to call the family home the ‘mad house’, with everyone running round in the mornings trying to get ready.
"But that madhouse was full of all the fun, love and laughter you could ever wish for as young children growing up,” she added.
"We never loved anyone as much as we loved our dad. He was always there for us, to protect us, guide us and advise us.
"I wanted just that one time to be there for him, when he was lying on that pitch on his own, to hold his hand like he held my hand through my life, and we weren't, none of his family were, and we have to live with that every single day."
Miss Burke told the court her dad is not a number. “He is Henry Thomas Burke who went to watch his beloved Liverpool and never came home.”
A mum said her first thought every morning is still her son, who died 25 years ago at Hillsborough.
Dolores Steele told the inquests she and her husband Les had travelled to Hillsborough with Philip, 15, from Southport, but came home alone.
She said: "We did a lot of things together as a family and on April 15, 1989 we awoke to a beautiful, bright, sunny day to attend the match together.
"Les was never the same since we lost Philip. He could not come to terms with the fact we were at Hillsborough and he was unable to save his son. It was all too much for him. He died in September 2001.”
Mrs Steele told the court Philip had followed in his father’s footsteps as a Liverpool supporter and knew everything there was to know about the club.
As a youngster he joined the Cubs and was an alter boy in the local church.
Mrs Steele said: “Philip loved his life, his school work and play, but there was something that came top of his list and that was football."
He was very close to his younger brother Brian, who was always by his side.
She added: "From the minute he was born until he died he filled our family with love and joy.
"I never heard Philip say anything negative about anyone.
"My first thought each morning is of Philip, as well as the last thought at night. He is always with is.
"Thank you for your love and beautiful smile. That smile could light up the world and I am very proud of you, Philip."
A sister spoke lovingly of her brother who died in the Hillsborough disaster.
Lesley Roberts said Peter Burkett, a 24-year-old insurance worker from Rock Ferry, was inseparable from his brother Terry as children.
When their parents divorced Peter moved to Anglesey with his mum, but later came back to Rock Ferry to live with his dad.
Ms Roberts said her brother was “bright and intelligent” with so much potential.
Ms Roberts read out some comments from younger brother Michael, who was eight when Peter died.
He said: “I think of my brother every day and I only wish I had more memories of him."
Ms Roberts told the court: "In November, 1988, five months before the Hillsborough disaster both my big brothers Peter and Terry walked me down the aisle on my wedding day.
"Without a doubt Peter was the star of the day."
She said if you searched the world a million times over you would never find anyone quite like Peter. “To us, he was unique,” she added.
"Shortly before Christmas five months ago, our mum passed away, aged just 66, just before she was able to complete this statement.
"She loved Peter with all her heart and said he was such a loving child and he was born smiling."
A man who died at Hillsborough would now be a grandfather the inquests heard.
Gloria Benson spoke about her son David, who was 22 when he died at the Sheffield Wednesday stadium.
Mrs Benson said David got on well with his twin brother Paul, but the pair could be very competitive.
After school he started work at a timber company where he met his partner Lesley.
Their daughter Kirsty was just two when David died.
Mrs Benson told the court that when Kirsty got married, Paul gave her away and they danced to Luther Vandross’s Dance With My Father Again at the reception.
She said: "Kirsty is now 27 and has two children of her own."
Mrs Benson said David’s two grandchildren were being "brought up to know about Hillsborough and their grandad who was so cruelly taken away before they even got a chance to meet and know him."