Friends, family and community pay tribute to Cambourne stabbing victim
Hundreds turn out for charity football game at Histon FC
Hundreds of supporters joined family and friends to pay tribute to Cambourne man Christopher West in a special footballing fundraiser at Histon last Friday night.
Mr West lost his life in a stabbing incident outside the Monkfield Arms public house on October 28.
Mr West, 30, died at the scene and his friend Daniel Berryman was also injured in the attack but survived.
The family of Mr West were left stunned by the response from the footballing community as hundreds attended the game at Histon FC.
A minute’s silence was held before the game got unerway and blue balloons were released into the night sky to remember Mr West.
The match was organised by friends of the two men and the crowd included colleagues, neighbours, school friends and members of the community.
Chris’s dad, James West, his mum, his sister, his older brothers Dan and Kieran, wife Becky, and father-in-law Dallas Robinson, were all in attendance.
Friends of the family Ant Brolia and Tommy Stevens put the event together with Chris’s wife’s cousin, Kienen Nixon, in support of those involved in the ordeal.
Mr Brolia, who had the idea to release the balloons before the start of the game, said: “The event was amazing.”
A spokesman for Comberton United, one of the teams involved in the charity game, said: “Thanks to all that turned out. Special thanks to Histon FC for staging the game, and the officials for giving up their time for free.”
Histon manager Lance Key said the club had donated the use of the ground for free and added that the although the circumstances were sad, the support generated underlined the community spirit.
Mr West’s funeral took place last week and a man has been charged with murder and grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to the attack. Comberton, who Mr West used to play for, played a Cambridge XI on the night and a Justgiving page to raise funds in his memory has reached more than £10,500.