TRIBUTES have been pouring in in the wake of the death of mother and grandmother Trudy Jones who was tragically killed in the Tunisian terror attack.

The care worker had taken a week long holiday to re-charge her batteries, travelling to Sousse, Tunisia with a close friend.

Staff and residents of the Highfields Nursing Home where Ms Jones worked remained in deep shock yesterday Home manager Shawkat Ilahi, who worked with Ms Jones for the last three years, said the tragedy was all the more poignant because the mother had been looking forward to it for so long.

And he said her loss was being felt very keenly at the the home were she was very popular among the residents, often bringing fun and laughter into their lives.

“We are meeting with all the staff, residents and residents families today to provide support and to discuss what we are going to do and how we're going to support her family.” Mr Ilahi said.

He added that Ms Jones was often the life and soul of the home.

“She was like a bottle of pop, she had a joke for everyone. She was always singing and was always on the go. She would sing different songs according to resident’s choice."

“She was the activities coordinator for the residents and would take them out.

“She was well thought of and all the residents are in shock. It is terrible –we were expecting her to be back tomorrow."

A former school friend of Ms Jones, Paula Pewtner, a credit controller at Newsquest, has been friends with Ms Jones since they were 15 years old and only found out what happened after a friend saw her name in the news.

Ms Pewtner said she was a ‘lovely girl.'

“She was funny Trudy,” she said. “She always put others before herself and she would always be there.

“I grew up with her and her sister, we went to school together from when we were 15 years old at Blackwood Comprehensive.

“She was always full of life and full of fun-she always wanted a laugh.

“She was a big family person and was the youngest of four.

“She was a fun girl and never did anything bad to anybody.

“She had such a nice family.”

Caerphilly Mayor Cllr Leon Gardiner said the whole of the valley is in a sad state.

“Our sympathy and thoughts are with the family,” he said.

“I speak on behalf of Caerphilly County Borough Council and all of the people who live in the area who are saddened on hearing about it.

“I didn’t know her personally but my aunt stayed in the nursing home where she worked.

“My thoughts go out to the family and the people who worked with her all these years.

“I give them my support as a councillor and to the family I give my deepest thoughts.”

Blackwood residents said they were just so shocked to hear the news.

Mary Roberts who lived on Apollo Way in Blackwood for the last 15 years said: “My mother was at Highfields and was well looked after, so I was very upset to learn that a lady was involved in such an incident.

“To think that people went on holiday and something so tragic has happened.

“I just feel for the family and for everyone at Highfields who must be devastated at the news.”

A resident who wishes to remain anonymous added: “I t has shocked the local community as she was such a lovely lady.”

Another resident Caroline Jones of Waun Llwyn Crescent said: “She was a friendly and bubbly person and knew so many people in the community so everyone was shocked to learn that it was her.

“My thoughts are with the family at this sad time.”

Delwyn Davies former mayor of Tredegar Town Council, said he was “shocked” to hear the news.

“It’s a sad thing to see a member of the community who didn’t expect to go on holiday and see this happen,” he said.

“I knew a few people in the nursing home and they are gutted.

“My condolences to the family, friends and her workmates."

Newsquest worker Amanda Tucker was forced to cancel her family holiday to Tunisia on July 12 following the attack.

Ms Tucker was due to stay at the same resort where a Welsh couple got engaged during the atrocity on Friday but decided to cancel her whole holiday, citing it was ‘not worth the risk.’ “I was offered a free of charge transfer [by Thomson] to have a different holiday but we feel really nervous so we think we're going to cancel and get a full refund,” she said.

“We were going to stay really close by [to the attack] at the Royal Kenz Hotel the one where the Welsh couple got engaged.

“I have been to Tunisia before and it was lovely.

“My cousin is over there at the moment on holiday in a different part of Tunisia and he said he is on edge.

“Everyone is on edge.

“It is just so sad.”

Blackwood Labour Cllr Nigel Dix said he didn’t know her personally but it has been a shock to everybody in the community.

“I don’t think anybody will accept the circumstances around it,” he said.
“There is no justification for this kind of action.

“It is devastating for the family and my heart goes out to them.

“It has been a huge shock to think terrorism can affect your community [especially] in Wales when we think we are far away.

“I am looking to support the community and the family as much as I can, but at this time I think they are going to be overwhelmed by grief.

“[Ms Jones] seemed such a hard working and dedicated person.”

Marie Higgins, a former care worker at Highfields Nursing Home knew Ms Jones from working together around five years ago when Ms Jones worked in the laundry.

“She was a lovely lady,” she said.

“She always made everybody laugh.

“She was always smiling, very friendly and used to like singing and dancing.”