THE SPECIALS’ legendary Neville Staple and wife Christine Staple paid an emotional tribute at the Godiva Festival to his grandson after he was fatally stabbed in Coventry city centre this weekend.
Neville dedicated one of the hits from Coventry’s greatest band – ‘A Message To You Rudy’ – to Fidel Glasgow, 21.
He was named yesterday as a victim who lost his life in a double stabbing during disorder around Club M in Croft Road. Fidel was found injured in Hertford Place around 5.30am on Sunday morning.
Christine said Neville was otherwise too emotional to give his planned address to the crowd against gun crime, so she stepped in with important words. She urged young people to ditch their knifes and for communities to come together – a central message of the Coventry-based 2-Tone movement of the late 1970s which The Specials spearheaded.
In a statement issued by West Midlands Police, Fidel’s mother said: “When your beautiful heart stopped beating my heart broke in two, knowing that here on earth there won’t be another quite like you.
“My beautiful, one of a kind child, you’re a part of me today and always. RIP baby boy.”
Christine told BBC Coventry and Warwickshire this morning Fidel was known as a “peace-maker” who would step in to break fights up.
She added he was charismatic and creative, and was working on his own clothing line.
A second man, aged 23, injured in the incident, was yesterday in a serious but stable condition and is recovering in hospital.
A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of the murder of Fidel.
Detective Inspector Harry Harrison, from the homicide unit, said: “Our investigation is continuing, but we really need help from the public. We believe there are people who saw or know what happened in the early hours of yesterday morning and I am urging them to come forward.
“Fidel was a young man with his whole life ahead of him. His family are shattered by his death and need answers as to why this has happened.
“I am asking anyone who knows what happened to search their conscience and call us.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact West Midlands Police either via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am to 9pm, call 101 anytime or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
