Tributes paid to Ipswich ‘family man’ who was fatally stabbed on his 63rd birthday

Hundreds of mourners gathered at Sevenhills Crematorium in Ipswich for the funeral of Ipswich man Ujjal Singh

Ujjal Singh, of Wallace Road, Ipswich, was visiting his daughter for Christmas when he was found with knife wounds at a house on Lidiard Street in Crumpsall, Manchester, early on December 1.

The father-of-four moved to Ipswich from India when he was two-years-old and owned many businesses in the town, the last being KG Stores grocery shop in Woodbridge Road.

Mr Singh leaves behind his wife of 44 years, Gurpage Kaur, as well as nine grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Six coaches filled with heartbroken guests from up and down the country attended the service at Seven Hills Crematorium in Felixstowe Road on Monday before heading to the Sikh Temple in Bramford Road to conclude a three-day reading of the scripture.

Ujjal Singh was murdered in Manchester on December 1 when he was visiting his daughter

Mr Singh’s nephew, Gurphal Singh, 47, said: “We couldn’t celebrate Christmas because it was in the back of our minds. We hadn’t had our closure with the funeral; we tried to do something for kids.

“We are still in deep shock and we still can’t believe what happened, he was just such a nice person, a real family man – that was the most important thing to him.”

Mr Singh attended St Helen’s Primary School and Tower Ramparts Secondary School and he went on to be a market trader in Tower Ramparts and also owned a shop called Tots and Teens in Carr Street.

His 38-year-old son, Gurpartab Singh said the direct Indian translation of Ujjal’s name meant radiant, and that word described him perfectly.

“He was the life and soul of the party and he wasn’t afraid to mix with the young ones and he will be sadly missed,” he added.

Naunihal Singh, 53, of no fixed address, has been charged with murder and remanded in custody.