Grieving partner's tribute to murdered Spalding mum

Below it is the date 06.06.15 – the day the couple first met at the wedding of Liz Edwards’ eldest daughter, Mary Cottingham.

Heartbroken Graham Green contacted the Spalding Guardian to thank the town for the overwhelming support and good wishes sent to him following the murder of Liz and her younger daughter, Katie (13) at their home in Dawson Avenue on Friday.

From his friend’s home in Derby where he has been staying, he posted a picture of the tattoo on Facebook with the words: “Liz you were my rock and my frog face. I love you to the moon and back and you will never be out of my heart.”

Mr Green told the Guardian: “I’m having three tattoos done so Liz and Katie will be with me for the rest of my life. The first of the bear with a flower has the date we met for the first time at her daughter’s wedding on June 6, 2015.

“Since then we celebrated our anniversary on the sixth of every month.

“The second will be of an angel with the date that she died. Then I’m having a Minion done for Katie because she loved them, but I have to check which one was her favourite.”

Friends and relatives commented on the tribute on social media, including Mary, who said: “Mum would have loved this, such a lovely tattoo.”

Matt Fisher wrote: “Well done mate. It’s lovely.”

And Jo Elsden said: “It’s really lovely, such a perfect tribute.”

It was 14 months ago that Mr Green, an HGV driver from Rugby, first made contact with Liz on Facebook. He said: “Until the wedding we just chatted on Facebook and on the phone.

“When I first met her she was involved with a children’s drama group and cycle awareness.

“I grew to love her much more than words can say. I used to travel from Rugby every week. I wanted to marry her and when I saw her on Easter weekend we were trying to sort out about me moving in.”

Mr Green said he first became concerned something had happened when he had been unable to get in touch with Liz on Thursday.

He said: “I tried on Thursday to get hold of her and sent a text message on Friday morning. I was so worried on Friday and then I got a text message from a friend.

“When I came over I couldn’t believe it. The police wouldn’t let me in the house and I was so upset I went to stay with friends in Derby.

“My phone hasn’t stopped with friends contacting me. I want to thank them for their support - and Spalding. I heard about the flowers left outside - she didn’t like them from me as she was an old-fashioned girl so I told her, ‘I’ll buy you diamonds’.

“I plan to put a teddy with the flowers with something purple because that was her favourite colour.”