Nigel Lay

A former Tilehurst schoolboy and Woodley churchgoer has been remembered as “a vivid ginger flare full of laughter”.

Nigel Lay, 21, who used to attend Prospect School and worked at Foster’s care home in Woodley, was found dead on Sunday, January 25.

Mr Lay, who is believed to have been found hanging at his home at Seaford Court in Wokingham, previously lived in Reading, Woodley and Arborfield Garrison where he worked in the base’s shop.

He was also a member of St James’s Church in Woodley and its youth group, FISH, which meets at Southlake Crescent’s Emmanuel Church Centre.

Mr Lay’s former girlfriend Jess Hope, who attends Woodley’s Waingels College, paid tribute to her ex, who she split with recently.

She said: “He had a few problems and often got through them with drink. It was his way to escape.

“But recently he had been doing so much better. He was tackling his problems and even going to church.

“It’s a real blow to everyone and a shock because of his dramatic improvement in such short time. Everyone misses him.

“I am, however, happy in the knowledge he is now in God’s hands and can’t be hurt anymore.”

Miss Hope’s mum, Wendy, said: “We took him in and under our wing.

“Nigel was a very special part of our family for while. I only wish he had an idea of how much people realised what he was up against. I hope now, at last, he has found peace in the arms of God.

“Nigel we will miss you. You were a vivid ginger flare full of laughter and angst and we loved you with all your baggage.”

Youth worker Ian Mullens, who runs FISH, said: “We first got to know Nigel when two members of St John’s Church, Woodley, provided him with support lodgings when he was 16 and Nigel had recently come out of care.

“Over the next couple of years Nigel became a regular member of Emmanuel Church and found Jesus Christ, accepting him as his Lord and Saviour by being baptised.

“Through all this time Nigel’s faith in the Lord kept him strong.

“He was never too proud to ask for help and with that help he was making real progress in putting the past behind him and finding a positive future.

“Nigel was greatly loved and will be deeply missed, this has been a very difficult time for all of us. But we are comforted by our faith which was shared by Nigel and we know that he will be at peace now with God.

“I would like to thank on behalf of Nigel all those who cared for and supported him throughout his life, showing amazing love and compassion, because they did make such a difference to him.”

A service to celebrate Mr Lay’s life will be held at 7pm on Sunday in Emmanuel Church, Southlake Crescent, Woodley.