The daughter of a Morden couple who were killed in the Tunisia terrorist attacks has paid tribute to her “young at heart” parents and described the “horrific” moment their worst fears were confirmed.

Janet Stocker, 63, and her husband John, 74, were on holiday at the Rui Imperial Marhaba Hotel in Sousse when gunman Seifeddine Rezgui opened fire on Friday, June 26, 2015.

A total of 38 tourists lost their lives, including 30 Britons. Mr and Mrs Stocker were among the first to be killed in the attack, as they lay on sun loungers on the beach.

January 23: Morden couple John and Janet Stocker 'didn't stand a chance' in Tunisia terror attack, inquest hears

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John and Janet Stocker

The couple, who lived in Stonecoat Hill, left behind five children and ten grandchildren. Mrs Stocker worked at the North Cheam branch of Sainsbury’s, where colleagues raised money towards a memorial bench in October 2015.

Their daughter, Kelly Stocker-Putt said: “They are constantly on our minds. There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t think about something they used to do or say.

“They were very much a part of our kids’ lives. We always talk about them to our kids. We don’t want their memory to ever fade away. It does get unbearable sometimes, but you have to keep busy.”

She added: “We have always been a close family, there’s so many of us. Every time we’re together, they’re talked about and we always laugh.

“That’s what they would have always wanted. They were so young at heart. They would have always joined in with the jokes. My mum loved a party, she was always the first one up dancing. They won’t ever be forgotten.”

As news of the atrocity reached the UK on the afternoon of June 26, 2015, the Stocker children grew increasingly nervous about the lack of contact from their parents.

Ms Stocker-Putt said: “At first you think ‘of all the places and all the people, surely it’s not them’, but in the back of your mind you start getting worried.

January 16: Moment gunman opened fire on Tunisian beach killing 30 Brits including Morden couple shown to court​

“We didn’t hear anything for 24-hours. We were just hoping they were in hiding. We were all together, just waiting for hours and trying to ring their phones.

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Rezgui killed 38 tourists in the attack

“We kept saying they were in hiding, and too scared to come out, and that’s why we hadn’t heard, but it wasn’t like them not to call. I had spoken to them every other day of their holiday. They were sending me photographs, I knew they had been having an amazing time.

“As the hours go by, you’re frantically ringing people and on the phone to the Foreign Office, or just sitting by the phone waiting. It was the most horrific time. I’ll never forget it.

“Me, [and her brothers] Lee and Mark were waiting by the phone. It wasn’t until late on the Saturday that we had the confirmation.

"It’s just your worst nightmare. You never forget it. You don’t believe it’s real.

“You’re living in hope and as the hours go by, you’re hearing people are being flown home and you’ve heard nothing, so you’re just hoping and praying you’ll get the call to say they are fine.”

She added: “It wasn’t meant to be.”

Three days later, the five Stocker children flew out to Tunisia together to see the place where their parents had spent their final moments.

Ms Stocker-Putt said: “It helps, knowing they didn’t know anything about what was going on. They were probably the first ones.

January 13: Family of Tunisia attack victims ‘hope to find answers’ ahead of inquest​

“You hear other people’s stories about running for their lives and not knowing where their loved ones were, and it’s horrendous. So at least we know they knew nothing when it happened.

“They would have come back and said ‘you would have loved it – the good food and such a nice place and such beautiful weather’. And so for us, we can say we’ve been there and can see why they loved it.

“It gives us comfort that they spent their last hours together, doing what they loved to do.”

An inquest into the 30 British deaths during the attack, opened at the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday, January 16. It is expected to finish on Tuesday, February 28.

As part of the inquest into the deaths of Mr and Mrs Stocker held yesterday, Monday, January 23, their children provided a ‘pen portrait’ to describe to the court what their parents were like.

It read: "Mum and Dad were a happy couple who loved each other dearly and loved life.

"They were both young at heart and enjoyed all that life could offer. They were frequent flyers and enjoyed travelling to new places, exploring and appreciating local cultures.

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(Front L-R) Denise Stocker and Kelly Stocker-Putt... (Back L-R) Mark Stocker and Lee Stocker at the bench unveiling.

"Janet and John's home life resolved around the most simple of pleasures; family and friends.

"Their extensive family consists of five children, ten grandchildren, and an abundance of siblings, cousins and a wider family that were very much a part of their everyday life.

"There was always a party or dinner being thrown in honour of someone most weeks at their home and this is where they were most in their element, laughing and joking with everyone.

"We were all a part of the Stocker family, no matter who you were. Near or far you were always made to feel that you were at the centre of their lives.

“Most importantly, they were still very much in love with each other.

"Who was John Stocker? Born in 1941 at Dulwich Hospital, John was 74 at the time of his death.

"John was a retired printer who was born and bred in Peckham and a proud father to five children and ten grandchildren.

"John grew up during the Second World War in the heart of London and often spoke of his early days playing with his friends on the bomb sites. As the bombings intensified, the children of London were evacuated to the countryside and John as a young boy was sent to Norfolk.

"It was probably his early exposure to adventure that helped shape his outlook and approach to the rest of his life as he continued to explore new places, whether near or far and his memory for dates and places remained.

"After the war had ended and life began to get back to normal, John came home to Peckham and after leaving school in 1958 gained an apprenticeship in printing. He remained in the printing industry for the majority of his working life. It was also where, as a handsome 22‐year old that he met and married his first wife and became a father to Denise, Paul and Mark.

"John's early exposure to print is where his obsession for photography began. He was a prolific photographer and thankfully so, as we are now enriched with special moments caught on camera of all of our lives which we can look back on and be thankful for.

"After meeting Janet in 1973, they went on to marry and John became a father again to Kelly and Lee. John was made redundant from the printing industry and went on to on work for Sainsbury's until he retired in 2006.

"John enjoyed an active and family‐filled retirement, sharing his time between family, friends, his hobbies of gardening, golf, gym as well as his much loved and passion for photography and travel.

"John leaves behind five children and ten grandchildren.

"Who was Janet Stocker? Born in 1951 in Parsons Green, Fulham, Janet was 63 at the time of her death.

"Janet's early life with her brothers really helped shape her character. Her sense of adventure, her fun‐seeking outlook and of course her natural ability to have fun and to have a giggle began with all of the games and jokes she played with her brothers.

 "Janet had a happy childhood. After leaving school she found herself a job at 18. Her first full‐time job was in a bank. It was around this time as a fun‐loving 21‐year old she met John and became a mother to Kelly in 1976 and again with Lee in 1979.

"As the children grew up Janet had many different part‐time jobs working around Kelly and Lee's schedules. She worked in the local bingo hall and told some of her funniest stories about these times in their lives.

"Janet made friends wherever she went, none more so than through her long career at Sainsbury's.

"Her infectious giggle was one of her signature traits. She would always think about the positives, never the negatives, and would always see the best in people.

"She was a best friend to anyone who knew and appreciated her kind, understanding and loving character. That is something that can only come naturally from a big, kind heart which again typified her beautiful soul.

"Janet was a fun‐loving and devoted mother and grandmother, and loved nothing more than being surrounded by all of her family and friends.

"Janet leaves behind two children, four grandchildren, two brothers, an extended family and many close friends.

"John and Janet Stocker died together doing what they enjoyed most: being side by side."