Reading terror attack: Son’s death ‘still feels so raw’

The couple say they have done it for James, as well as his friends Joe and David, whose mothers they stay in touch with.

Jan says they exchange phone calls and messages “because there’s only us that really know how we feel, and we talk to each other, so as mum’s we support each other that way”.

“We’re all heartbroken,” she says.

Joe, who worked for a pharmaceutical company in Reading, was a US citizen who moved to the UK 15 years before the attack.

His family previously described him as “brilliant and loving”.

While David was a scientist who worked for a global chemicals firm, and was described as “always happy” and a person who “always made people smile”.

The three friends were “great supporters” of the LGBT community, Reading Pride’s chief executive Martin Cooper previously said, describing them as “true gentlemen”.

Reflecting on other terror attacks in London and Manchester, as well as Reading, Jan and Gary’s main priority now is ensuring all the lessons learned are put into practice by the authorities.

They want to help prevent future attacks and stop other people “having to live our nightmare”.

“We won’t, as families, allow lessons not to be learned,” Gary adds.

Khairi Saadallah was handed a whole-life jail term for the murder of the three friends and attempting to murder three others at his sentencing in January 2021.

A permanent memorial stone to the men was unveiled in Forbury Garden in 2023.