Murder stuns Little Common family

Ann and Malcolm Bates were flying out to Uganda yesterday to be with their daughter and young grandson after learning their son-in-law had been shot and killed by rebels.

Exact details surrounding the tragic death of former diplomat Steve Willis, 38, are unclear but it is believed he died rescuing rafters on an expedition up the Nile when the group came under attack.

Together with his wife Debbie, 31, a former Ancaster House School pupil, they had established a series of back packer camps in the African country.

It was while he was at one of them in the Murchison Falls National Park that he received the call for assistance from the expedition.

"Steve phoned Debbie at Kampala and she asked him not to go as she thought it too dangerous," said Mrs Bates. "But he said what could he do. He couldn't leave them stranded.

"He said he would pick up some army guards but the story we have at the moment is that they failed to meet him and he went with just one other person."

According to her mother, Debbie fell in love with Africa after graduating from Manchester University.

She back-packed her way round the country and it was here she met her future husband.

They were married at St Mark's Church in July 2000 and returned to Uganda where they had established the first of three successful backpacker hostels called Red Chilli.

Their son Joseph arrived two years ago.

The church community of St Mark's has rallied in support of the well-known and well loved family after news of the tragic death spread this week.

Former local dentist Malcolm is a Churchwarden and Ann is a Lay Reader.

Just weeks into his role as rector, the Rev Jonathan Frais has come to know the couple well.

"Malcolm and Ann are tremendous givers in St Mark's, most obviously in their time. The pastoral support they have given to others is now being returned to them with love and affection and our prayers.

"We follow a Lord who suffered. The Christian God is a sympathetic God in times of trouble.

"Times of great disaster happen to all people. It tests us as to how we respond, what reserves of faith we have and how we learn to live with them."

The rebels known as the Lord's Resistance Army have been responsible for indiscriminate killings for nearly 20 years.

"They abduct children, kill adults and torture and the Ugandan government has not dealt with it," said the Rev Frais.

"People die every day but it is not in the media spotlight. There have been hundreds of deaths, week in, week out. It's just an awful time in northern Uganda but if you keep to the rules and take advice, you can see beautiful parts of the world and be safe."

Asked if she had been worried about the safety of her daughter and family, Mrs Bates said: "We were more worried they'd be hurt in a car accident than anything else. The drivers in Kampala are really scary."

Mr and Mrs Bates were travelling to Entebbe airport with their son-in-law's parents from Dartford, Kent and were due to arrive in time for a memorial service on Saturday.

"They had been out there for such a long time and made some lovely, lovely friends. Debbie felt it was part of the grieving process involving everybody before repatriating Steve's body home," she said.

Their younger daughter Julia, married to a South African, had already arrived from Tanzania to comfort and support her sister.

The Little Common couple had only visited their daughter and family in February this year and had seen them since when they came over for a friend's wedding and again in June when Debbie returned for her grandmother's funeral.

"The family are devastated," said Mrs Bates.