Mum of Hillsborough victim: for a mother to lose her son is against the natural order of things
Liverpool fan Carl Lewis died at Hillsborough aged 18. His daughter, Chantelle, read the pen portrait written by his mother Margaret.
"When a woman loses her husband she becomes a widow. When a man loses her wife, she becomes a widower. When a mother loses her child, there are no words for this. This is because it is not the natural order of things.
"No parent should ever feel the grief and emotion that comes with losing a child, a child that you created and cherished unconditionally since the day you first set eyes on him."
The first born of three sons, Carl lived in a busy house.
"Our home was always full with the sound of joy and happy, healthy children. We were so blessed.
"Carl never gave us any real cause for concern throughout his life. He was a good boy."
She said Carl had enjoyed school and was very popular and outgoing. He left school at 16 and to become an apprentice bricklayer.
He didn’t enjoy it but got a job in a chicken factory which "he absolutely loved".
"He was popular with all the workforce there. He spoke so highly of the job that he got his two brothers Michael and David to join him working at the factory."
After being made redundant, Carl got a job as a scaffolder. He then unexpectedly received a letter from the chicken factory asking if he would like to return to his old job.
"Carl was made up. He was so happy and looking forward to returning to the job. He was due to start back at the chicken factory on 17th April 19
"Carl started a relationship with Paula when he was around the age of 16. When he told u Paula was pregnant we were surprised to say the least!
"Paula and Carl both continued to live at home. Their beautiful daughter, Chantelle, my first grandchild was born on 26th April 1988. She was just 11 months old when Carl was taken so cruelly from us.
"We did not have much money. Michael, my husband, could not afford to go to the matches but he always made sure the boys had enough money to go and watch Liverpool play.
"On that awful day, Carl was at the match with his two brothers and also his friend Paul Carlile, who also died. The death of Carl was so unexpected, so sudden and cruel.
"The grief tore my family apart.
"David and Michael struggled to cope with the loss of Carl but thankfully they have both got their lives together and I am so proud of both of them.
"Michael, my husband, never recovered from the loss of our first-born son and died four years ago at the age of just 58.
"I often sit and wonder, what if. Carl would be 43 year old now. He has nieces and nephews who never met him but they all know about that dreadful day and they love and miss him just the same. "