Tunisia beach massacre: Coffin of Nottingham social worker returns to UK

An aircraft with the bodies of eight Britons including John Stollery, a social worker for Nottinghamshire County Council, has returned to the UK.

A C-17 military transport aircraft, which left Tunisia airport has arrived in Oxfordshire with the bodies of eight Britons who died in the Tunisian beach massacre.

John Stollery, 58, from north Nottinghamshire, worked for the local authority for 33 years and dedicated the last 16 years to working with children in care for Nottinghamshire County Council.

John was amongst the 38 people shot dead by student Seifeddine Rezgui, 23, at the beach resort of Sousse.

Mr Stollery was on holiday with his wife Cheryl when he died, she said: “We, his family, are proud of him and deeply saddened that he was taken from us in such a horrific and tragic way.

We still had a long life to live with plans and dreams of our future together.

Cheryl Stollery.

“We love and miss him terribly and nothing will ever be the same again.”

Anthony May, Nottinghamshire County Council’s Chief Executive said: “As a dedicated social worker, he had a passion to help others that was apparent to everyone that he met. John will be missed greatly.”

The flight also contained the bodies of Stephen Mellor, Adrian Evans, Patrick Evans, Joel Richards, Carly Lovett, Dennis and Elaine Thwaites.

A national minute’s silence will be held on July 3 to remember the victims of the Tunisian beach attack at 12pm.