‘The shock is still with us’ — friend pays tribute to Hampstead Norreys couple murdered in Uganda
A friend has paid tribute to a well-known couple murdered while on their honeymoon in Uganda.
David Barlow, his South-African-born wife Celia and their Ugandan guide were driving through the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda on Tuesday, October 17, when their safari vehicle was attacked by terrorists linked to the so-called Islamic State.
All three have been confirmed dead by the Ugandan police authorities.
Stephen Davis, who lives in the same village as the deceased in Hampstead Norreys, had attended and given a speech at the couple's wedding in South Africa on Saturday, October 14.
He and his wife received the news the couple had been killed a day after they returned home.
Speaking to newburytoday, Mr Davis said: “We found out very early on Wednesday morning.
“We'd come back from South Africa very early on Tuesday morning and we had a note from one of David's brothers to inform us.”
Mr Davis, a flood warden for Hampstead Norreys Parish Council, knew Mr Barlow in his capacity as the parish council chairman. But the pair were also close friends outside of work, as he explains.
“My wife has known David and his family since their school days. She was in the same year as his elder brother.
“And David and I have known each other since I moved into the village about eight or nine years ago.
“We were good mates. Him and Celia and my wife and I had been on holiday a number of times together.
“We used to see them a few times a week and met up for beers regularly over the weekend. We were in and out of each other's houses a lot.”
Both the deceased came from large families.
Mr Barlow, the youngest of four brothers, was a well-known figure in the community, serving as the chairman of Hampstead Norreys Cricket Club.
Mr Davis spoke more about the “massive sense of loss” which has been felt by the entire community.
“I've been speaking to a number of people just walking around the village,” he added. “I think we're just still quite numb frankly.
“The shock is very much still with us. We're finding it all very hard to compute.
“It's just the brutality of it and it just seemed so random.”
Mr David closed by saying he understands the British authorities are doing everything they can to keep the family informed, but that the first priority “is trying to support each other, especially the family”.