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00:00:15 Hello, this is our live coverage of the funeral of William Brown,
00:00:19 known to friends and family as Will Brown Jr.
00:00:23 Now, some viewers may find the following coverage distressing.
00:00:28 The service is due to start at 2pm,
00:00:31 and it's then when the whole community here in Folkestone and throughout Kent
00:00:34 will come together to remember the 7-year-old Will, who sadly died last month.
00:00:40 St Mary and St Ainsworth Church means a lot to the family.
00:00:43 It was in this very graveyard where Will would play with his friends,
00:00:47 and it is now where his family, friends and the community will say their goodbyes.
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00:18:04 Would you please be seated.
00:18:09 [Pause]
00:18:14 Well, welcome to St. Mary and St. Eanes Wythe Church.
00:18:19 [Pause]
00:18:24 And a special welcome also to those who are standing outside.
00:18:29 Welcome to you as well.
00:18:34 We're here to do three things today.
00:18:39 Two of those things are to do with the family and friends.
00:18:44 And three of those things are to do with the people who are here today.
00:18:49 And we're here to do that for all of those who are here to support their family in their grief and in their loss.
00:18:54 We're here first of all to celebrate young William's life.
00:18:59 The person that he was that we believe he still is.
00:19:04 His sparkling personality.
00:19:09 And the way that he has made his mark in his life.
00:19:14 We're here to honour those memories.
00:19:19 Those of you who knew him and knew him well, to honour the memories that you have.
00:19:24 To hold them here today.
00:19:29 And you'll find that in the first part of the service, that's what that's dedicated to.
00:19:34 To honour the memories that you have left on our world and on our town.
00:19:39 Secondly, we're here to take our leave and say goodbye.
00:19:44 And that's really tough.
00:19:49 And that's why we're all here together.
00:19:54 Because we stand together, united, with those who are grieving most.
00:19:59 And we stand together as one special soul.
00:20:04 Thirdly, those of us who may not have known Will personally, are here because they want to support you who did.
00:20:09 Your tragedy has touched the lives of so many people in and around Folkstone and beyond and nationally.
00:20:14 And people are here because they wish you well.
00:20:19 I want you to know that.
00:20:24 And I want to stand with you in your grief and in your sorrow.
00:20:29 Let us pray.
00:20:34 God of all consolation, your son Jesus Christ was moved to tears at the grave of Lazarus, his friend.
00:20:39 Look with compassion on your children in their loss.
00:20:44 Give to troubled hearts the light of hope and strengthen in us the gift of faith.
00:20:49 In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
00:20:54 And now as we begin to remember William and celebrate his life, I'm going to ask for the tributes.
00:21:01 William.
00:21:04 I'm William Brown.
00:21:28 Proudest dad of William Brown and Pearl Brown.
00:21:37 William was an easygoing character who often had his shoes on the wrong feet.
00:21:44 He didn't care for trivial nonsense.
00:21:47 He was too busy making the most and being the life and soul.
00:21:53 He was quick to forgive and forget, make peace and move on to positives.
00:21:59 William always put others before himself.
00:22:03 He cared for and accepted everyone.
00:22:06 He would not allow anyone to be bullied or left out.
00:22:10 His actions spoke louder than his words.
00:22:14 And he was exactly the person you would want on your team.
00:22:18 William's drive and determination was infectious and admirable.
00:22:23 You could tell that he embodied the principles that he learned in this church and in his amazing school.
00:22:31 The values are the fruits of the spirit.
00:22:34 Love, peace, forgiveness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
00:22:41 He learned that in this very RE book that I have today.
00:22:54 He learned the values that that meant to individuals and communities.
00:22:58 He carried these in his character and in his personality.
00:23:03 John 14 verse 27 says in a scripture that William learnt about.
00:23:12 "My peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.
00:23:16 Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid."
00:23:21 [silence]
00:23:30 Excuse me.
00:23:33 William caught me watching the film with Winston Churchill in Dunkirk.
00:23:38 He was amazed at the teamwork and how much it could achieve.
00:23:45 He said to me, "Dad, they're just small fishing boats.
00:23:50 How can they make an impact?
00:23:52 How can they possibly get all our soldiers back?"
00:23:57 But when I explained to him that it was a huge team effort,
00:24:03 that there is power in numbers and solidarity and togetherness can achieve the impossible,
00:24:12 I could tell it really had an impact with him.
00:24:18 I've got some fond memories of Will.
00:24:21 Hundreds of memories with Will, but I've got two that stick out that I wanted to share today.
00:24:27 I took Will to a Liminge football green.
00:24:32 There was three boys playing football that were about 12 years old and Will was six at the time.
00:24:40 He just went in straight away and just played with the boys.
00:24:47 I was sort of like the lost sheep, didn't really know what to do.
00:24:52 I thought, "Come on, let's be a good dad and get something going."
00:24:57 I said, "Right, lads.
00:24:59 Wembley doubles, me and my son versus you two."
00:25:05 I played with Will and it was first to three.
00:25:10 We went, bearing in mind I was older, so I sort of equalised it to two-two.
00:25:18 I was knackered, I'll be honest.
00:25:20 I was knackered and I was trying to draw out the two boys
00:25:25 so that I could get Will on the goal to get us the winner.
00:25:30 But it wasn't really working, so I thought, "I've got no chance.
00:25:34 I've got no choice but to shoot."
00:25:38 I ran past one of the boys and I had the best shot I could.
00:25:42 The keeper saved it and he pushed it out.
00:25:46 One of the other boys got it and my son Will done a slide tackle.
00:25:50 He loved the slide challenge, he was so into it.
00:25:53 He done a slide tackle, beat the 12-year-old boy to the ball and banged it in the goal.
00:26:01 We beat them three-two.
00:26:03 I said to him, "Son, go and shake their hands."
00:26:07 He just shook their hand and he just took off.
00:26:10 He said to me, "Come on, Dad, we're off down to Warren.
00:26:12 Next thing's next."
00:26:13 He didn't make a big thing about it, but that meant more to me as a father
00:26:17 to be able to do that.
00:26:19 For him to be able to finish that the way he did was like,
00:26:23 "What more can you want as a dad if you love football?"
00:26:28 There's one other thing about William, the 100-metre race at school on sports day.
00:26:35 Before the sports day, the night before, I took him to the field.
00:26:41 I said to him, "Will, you're all going to line up.
00:26:44 You've got to listen for when the gun goes.
00:26:47 Don't go before. Just listen, focus, and go with the gun."
00:26:52 I said, "Will, just look at where you want to go.
00:26:55 Just focus on the finish.
00:26:57 Don't be distracted. Don't look around.
00:26:59 Don't worry about what anyone thinks.
00:27:01 Just do what you need to do and go for the goal line."
00:27:06 That's exactly what he'd done.
00:27:10 One of his best friends, Oliver, was streaming up the right-hand side
00:27:14 and he was on the left-hand side.
00:27:18 Oliver was winning.
00:27:20 You could see Oliver was winning, and he had a cheeky little look
00:27:24 because he said, "Oh, have a little look where Will is."
00:27:27 At that point, you can see in the video, Will's just absolutely striving towards the finish.
00:27:34 He overtook and took the 100 metres, so he is technically the 100-metre champ.
00:27:42 That made me proud, son.
00:27:46 He didn't understand why he didn't get a trophy.
00:27:52 [laughter]
00:27:57 I'll just explain to him that.
00:28:01 You don't necessarily get a trophy for a 100-metre sprint,
00:28:04 but I bought him that trophy and it says "Best Son"
00:28:08 because he was the best son.
00:28:11 I'm so thankful I bought him that trophy when I did.
00:28:18 William loved facts.
00:28:20 There were many times I would find myself going,
00:28:24 googling random facts that he had told me after putting him to bed
00:28:28 just to check for my own sanity they were correct.
00:28:32 So, William, as you know, this church dates from the 13th century.
00:28:38 An order from the Privy Council from 1855 closed this church ground to burials 168 years ago.
00:28:47 That order has remained in place ever since.
00:28:50 Because of this, we needed His Majesty the King's permission to bury you here.
00:28:57 So after tireless team effort from but not limited to Damien Collins and Bishop Rose and Reverend John Walker
00:29:10 and over 4,000 people who signed a petition,
00:29:14 your case was discussed with the King's Privy Council
00:29:18 and His Majesty the King gave his blessing and granted you permission.
00:29:24 Considering the graveyard was deemed full, by a miracle,
00:29:28 your grave will lay in the exact place you refer to in your 2001 school book,
00:29:36 underneath the chestnut tree in which you write,
00:29:39 "I feel peaceful when I am sat under the chestnut tree."
00:29:45 There are so many great souls left to rest here, William.
00:29:49 They haven't had a visitor in a long while.
00:29:52 You are in the history books with them now.
00:29:55 Now that son is legendary.
00:30:02 Digging a hole at Nan and Grandad's the very night before William passed.
00:30:11 My mum, William's nanny, Rose, has always said about how I used to love digging holes and making bases.
00:30:20 The very night before, I went out in the garden with Will and we dug a six-foot hole.
00:30:27 He loved it and he just loved being messy with the earth.
00:30:32 He loved it that he got down to clay.
00:30:36 You could tell that night after he had a shower,
00:30:41 he had fulfilled what he wanted to fulfill in digging that grave,
00:30:47 sorry, in digging that hole.
00:30:49 That's why we were so sure that he would want to be buried,
00:30:54 because he found peace in the earth.
00:30:58 My sincere thanks, love and respect to all the ambulance crews,
00:31:04 fire and police services, that all they could do for my son.
00:31:09 When I arrived at the scene after the call,
00:31:13 I could see William was getting the best possible care.
00:31:16 I thank you for enabling me to be with William throughout
00:31:23 and I thank the fireman's jacket that kept me warm as I held my son's feet.
00:31:28 Be at peace and know that you all done everything you could for William.
00:31:34 It was William's time.
00:31:36 He instantly and peacefully went, which brings me great comfort.
00:31:43 I'm sure he was much more interested by that time,
00:31:49 exploring the heavenly realms.
00:31:52 Thank you so much to the community for uniting with our family
00:31:57 in supporting us and creating William's legacy of peace, love and unity.
00:32:03 The support has been moving and uplifting.
00:32:08 William would have talked to and engaged with everyone.
00:32:12 He had no preconceptions or judgements.
00:32:16 I would find myself talking to all sorts of people with William,
00:32:20 because he would have just started the conversation.
00:32:24 In the world we live in, life is hard.
00:32:27 People are struggling.
00:32:29 You never know what people are going through
00:32:31 unless you reach out, just as William did.
00:32:35 I feel that this is William's message, and if we all apply this to our lives,
00:32:40 William will have left the lasting impact he would have wanted.
00:32:44 Just like the small boats at Dunkirk,
00:32:47 multiple small efforts united can have the greatest impact.
00:32:57 I also just feel that William would say to me now,
00:33:02 "Dad, tell him about the roads."
00:33:06 So please take care on roads and drum into your children
00:33:11 that roads are dangerous and there's no winners,
00:33:14 because that's what Will would have wanted to express.
00:33:20 William, I'm honoured to be your father.
00:33:22 I've learnt so much from you.
00:33:25 You have moulded me into a better person.
00:33:31 I love you, and I will always carry you with me.
00:33:37 Please stay with me, son.
00:33:41 I will look after your sister, Pearlie, just as you did.
00:33:46 Pearlie, I don't know where you are,
00:33:52 but all these people here loved your brother, and they love you too.
00:33:58 If you can hear us, Pearlie, we're all here behind you.
00:34:03 William is in your spirit, and everybody here is here to support you on earth.
00:34:10 We all know you will go on to achieve greatness
00:34:14 and make William and all of us proud.
00:34:17 I promise you, Pearlie, we all have your back.
00:34:22 If you don't believe me, just listen to the people.
00:34:26 [Applause]
00:34:52 I'd like to invite Ian to come and say his words.
00:35:19 Hello, my name's Ian.
00:35:23 I'm the Ian in...
00:35:26 [Ian makes a noise]
00:35:32 I'm the Ian in...
00:35:39 I'm the Ian in...
00:35:40 [Ian makes a noise]
00:35:45 I'm the Ian in William...
00:35:48 I'm William's grandad.
00:35:50 I'm William's grandad, that's right.
00:35:59 First of all, I'd like to thank Damien Collins,
00:36:08 who, without the gentlemen getting on board
00:36:13 and getting behind William and all and supporting it,
00:36:17 this would never have got off the ground.
00:36:20 So, can we have a round of applause for Damien, please?
00:36:23 [Applause]
00:36:33 I bet Will loved this church.
00:36:36 Imagine him playing hide and seek in here.
00:36:38 You'd never find him, would you?
00:36:52 William was a very clever lad, but he was also quite a quiet lad.
00:36:59 And at home we had rather heated debates about things and get going.
00:37:07 And William would just sit there and he'd listen and he'd listen.
00:37:12 And then we would finish going on about what we were going on about.
00:37:20 He'd just say two or three words,
00:37:23 but those two or three words made more sense than all the stuff that we'd said.
00:37:28 He was so quiet and so intelligent and so wise.
00:37:36 The best times with William was when he allowed me to go into his imaginary world
00:37:47 and listen to his wonderful stories about what he'd done in this imaginary world
00:37:54 and what he was going to do in this imaginary world.
00:37:59 It was absolutely fantastic listening to him.
00:38:09 I've had to cut the strokes of nervous breakdown and I'm quite knackered.
00:38:19 Me and William, we got into construction.
00:38:24 And there's a lot of things I can't do.
00:38:27 But William would come up with this plan of what he was going to build.
00:38:33 He'd get his little screwdriver out and his little hammer out.
00:38:37 And at the end he'd make exactly what he was trying to make.
00:38:41 It didn't make any sense to me or anyone else when you look at it,
00:38:45 but he was happy with it.
00:38:47 He was brilliant in everything he did.
00:38:50 He planted some vegetables in the garden.
00:39:00 And he absolutely loved looking at them every week to see how much it had grown.
00:39:06 And he then had great delight when the carrots came up and the potatoes came up
00:39:11 and the broad beans came up.
00:39:13 He was so excited by it all, but that's what he liked.
00:39:16 He liked nature. He liked the natural things of life.
00:39:19 He didn't go with all the crap that we're brought up with.
00:39:28 He loved going down the beach and finding fossils
00:39:31 or going in the woods and finding creepy crawlers.
00:39:41 He didn't see me as a man that was falling to pieces.
00:39:46 He saw me as a friend that he loved.
00:39:49 And he saw everyone as people that he loved and cared for.
00:39:56 I've been told not to preach, so I won't, but I'm a Christian.
00:39:59 I believe in Jesus Christ.
00:40:03 I have respect for all faiths and beliefs, but I've got to confess,
00:40:16 I've said a lot of things to God over the last couple of weeks
00:40:19 that you shouldn't really say to God.
00:40:23 At one point, I was waiting for the thunderbolt to come down and hit me
00:40:28 because you don't say everything to God.
00:40:30 But then he reminded me, God reminded me that he actually knew
00:40:40 what William and what Laura were going through
00:40:45 because he watched his son die on the cross for you and me.
00:40:53 Whoever would believe that your sins are forgiven through his blood,
00:40:57 your sins are forgiven.
00:41:00 But he watched the pain and the agony that Jesus Christ went through,
00:41:05 and he went through it all.
00:41:08 So Laura and William, God understands.
00:41:12 I don't, but God understands.
00:41:18 I'll leave you there.
00:41:20 [Applause]
00:41:34 I had one rule with William.
00:41:47 It wasn't a rule, it was a saying, and that was,
00:41:51 "Daddies, granddads need hugs. Granddads need hugs."
00:42:01 Now, when he was small, it was fine, and you'd get a little hug off him.
00:42:09 But as he got bigger and bigger, he found the art of hugging
00:42:17 to his maximum extent, using all his energy.
00:42:21 And as years went by, it got stronger and stronger
00:42:24 to the point where he was almost strangling me.
00:42:31 But it didn't matter.
00:42:33 What I felt was 100% love, 100% peace, 100% acceptance,
00:42:42 and I loved every single second of it.
00:42:46 And I wish I could have that hug now.
00:42:51 William is my grandson.
00:42:54 William is my little helper.
00:42:58 But most of all, William is my dear, dear friend.
00:43:02 And I love him very much.
00:43:04 Thank you.
00:43:06 [Applause]
00:43:17 Laura, would you like to come?
00:43:24 Hello.
00:43:25 I would like everyone to take a moment to look at the back of the Order of Service.
00:43:29 It's a message from William from 2021.
00:43:35 "He felt peaceful under the chestnut tree.
00:43:38 Please know now that William is now at peace and safe in God's hands.
00:43:43 Writing a tribute about William has to be one of the most surreal things imaginable,
00:43:47 not only because the loss of him is incomprehensible,
00:43:50 but words simply cannot give him justice in conveying
00:43:54 what a truly remarkable human being he was.
00:43:57 He was not only our son, brother, and grandson, he was a best friend to many.
00:44:02 From the moment of his birth, William brought so much joy into our lives,
00:44:06 not just to us immediate family, but to all that crossed his path.
00:44:10 William was so special, he was unique.
00:44:13 An absolute one of a kind.
00:44:15 In this imperfect world, he was just perfect to us.
00:44:19 I knew from day one he was different.
00:44:22 His kindness, his beauty, his gentle soul just radiated.
00:44:26 His relentless imagination was just wonderful to observe.
00:44:31 We cry tears because we miss everything about his physical being,
00:44:35 his smell, his touch, his voice, his presence, his smile, and his dinner ratings.
00:44:44 I miss him whispering in my ear, 'I've got you, Mama.'
00:44:48 His feet were so small, but the imprint he has left behind in this world is huge.
00:44:54 William's passing has touched so many hearts.
00:44:57 We take great comfort in everyone's love for him.
00:45:00 We thank William for being a wonderful big brother and an amazing son.
00:45:05 William was the kindest and sweetest boy on God's earth.
00:45:09 Not a day goes by without us talking about him, rejoicing all our memories that we share.
00:45:15 We laugh and sometimes we cry.
00:45:18 Our hearts are aching for him.
00:45:20 William and Pearl were my two peas in a pod.
00:45:23 Everything we did was together.
00:45:25 We now have a massive void that can never be filled.
00:45:29 We were the three amigos.
00:45:32 William was a unique spirit, marching to the beat of his own drum, unswayed by passing trends.
00:45:39 By age three, most boys are amiss the latest Spider-Man craze,
00:45:43 but William was always found engrossed in anything from the natural and historical world.
00:45:48 William found his joy in the simplest of pleasures of nature,
00:45:53 whether it was digging in soil, sand or revelling in the open air.
00:45:58 It all stemmed from his love of dinosaurs at an early age.
00:46:02 William couldn't tell you where the TV remote was,
00:46:04 but he could recite the complicated names of each and every dinosaur.
00:46:09 This curiosity of the past grew and William sought pleasure in finding his own pieces of history
00:46:15 in the form of fossils at his favourite place, the Wharram.
00:46:19 His collections soon expanded into the weird and wonderful,
00:46:24 compromising of an octopus, a boa constrictor, a mongoose to say a few.
00:46:30 These fascinations reflected his truly distinctive personality.
00:46:34 Our life spent with William was a beautiful gift, a time filled with nothing but joy.
00:46:40 We take solace in knowing that he experienced a life brimming with love,
00:46:44 which was untouched by any form of sorrow or hardship.
00:46:48 To be able to call William my son has not only been an honour, but a real privilege.
00:46:53 These have been the greatest years of our lives.
00:46:57 Memories of him will fill our hearts forever.
00:47:00 William will always say when things were tricky, 'Come on, we've got this.'
00:47:04 I promise to always share William's love and kindness,
00:47:07 to make planet Earth as joyous as his beautiful kind eyes saw it.
00:47:12 Whilst we're all amiss our grief, please know that we are the lucky ones,
00:47:17 because we were able to share seven glorious years with William.
00:47:20 Us all coming together today in this time frame is nothing short of a miracle.
00:47:26 I believe that this is the first of many positive changes to come in William's memory.
00:47:32 This isn't goodbye, William has just started the journey before us.
00:47:37 He was always super speedy, the fastest boy in the class, the first boy in the big pool.
00:47:43 William always had a desire to win.
00:47:46 I know he's at peace now, knowing that he won his final race to heaven.
00:47:50 I whisper back to you, 'I've got you son.'
00:47:53 Adios amigos, until we meet again, I'm forever yours.
00:47:56 Love you forever and a day, Mummy and Purlie.
00:48:00 [applause]
00:48:14 Thank you so much all three of you. Aren't they brave? Extraordinary.
00:48:19 And what amazing words.
00:48:21 What I'd like to invite you to do now, we're going to have the next song at one speedy day.
00:48:27 And as the group sing, I'd like those of you who knew William to let your memory rise.
00:48:36 Let them be. It's really important to hold those good memories and to let them be.
00:48:42 So during this song do that.
00:48:44 Those of you who didn't, hold the family in your hearts as you listen to this song.
00:48:50 [music]
00:49:05 Sorry I never told you all I wanted to say.
00:49:19 And now it's too late to hold you because you've flown away so far away.
00:49:34 I never had any magic word.
00:49:42 Living without your smile.
00:49:50 Feeling and knowing you hear me.
00:49:57 It keeps me alive.
00:50:04 And I know you'll shine it down on me from heaven.
00:50:11 My soul may be brave if I smile all the way.
00:50:19 And I know adventure we will be together.
00:50:28 Most we dare.
00:50:35 My soul may be brave if I smile all the way.
00:50:49 And I know adventure we will be together.
00:50:57 Most we dare.
00:51:05 And I know you'll shine it down on me from heaven.
00:51:11 My soul may be brave if I smile all the way.
00:51:19 And I know adventure we will be together.
00:51:27 Most we dare.
00:51:34 Although the sun will never shine the same.
00:51:44 I'll always look to one day.
00:51:50 Lord, you'll be there when I lay down to sleep.
00:51:57 You will always be there as I pray.
00:52:04 And I know you'll shine it down on me from heaven.
00:52:11 My soul may be brave if I smile all the way.
00:52:18 And I know adventure we will be together.
00:52:25 Most we dare.
00:52:32 And I know you'll shine it down on me from heaven.
00:52:40 My soul may be brave if I smile all the way.
00:52:48 And I know adventure we will be together.
00:52:56 Most we dare.
00:53:03 And I know you'll shine it down on me from heaven.
00:53:10 My soul may be brave if I smile all the way.
00:53:18 And I know adventure we will be together.
00:53:27 Most we dare.
00:53:36 Sorry I never told you all I wanted to say.
00:53:56 Would you please bow your heads for a prayer.
00:54:05 God I want to thank you for every memory that there is here in this church today of William.
00:54:14 We thank you.
00:54:16 And as we hold these memories in our hearts and let them go, may they rise like incense to you in your kind of worship.
00:54:27 We're so grateful for his presence in this world.
00:54:33 We thank you God for everything that we've learned today from listening to those who have loved him.
00:54:41 And for learning about the impact he's made in the world and the ways to see the world in a different way.
00:54:48 Thank you God for all of this.
00:54:52 We pray to you in the place of your name that he's been with us.
00:54:57 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
00:55:01 Let's ask our friends to come forward and read our reading.
00:55:05 The joy that we have is that there is another place and we know that William's there.
00:55:29 And he often talked about it and in fact the week before he died I asked him how he was getting on with his faith of Jesus.
00:55:37 And he said, "It's a bit of a problem Nanny."
00:55:40 So I said, "What's that then Will?"
00:55:42 And he said, "Well you can't see him."
00:55:45 And I said, "Well you can't see the wind but it's there. You can see when it blows the trees.
00:55:51 And you can see when people love one another and reach out to one another. You can see the love."
00:55:58 I said to him, "You will see him face to face."
00:56:05 I didn't think it would be so quick but I believe William had an appointed time here.
00:56:13 He brought so much laugh and peace, so much joy. I'm sure we could all tell a thousand stories.
00:56:21 I'm just going to read this. It's from 1 Thessalonians 4, 13-18.
00:56:27 From the Good News Translation and it's concerning the Lord's coming.
00:56:33 Our friends, we want you to know the truth about those who have died, so that you will not be sad, as are those who have no hope.
00:56:45 We believe that Jesus died and rose again.
00:56:49 And so we believe that God will take back with Jesus those who have died believing in him.
00:56:57 What we are teaching you now is the Lord's teaching.
00:57:01 We who are alive on the day the Lord comes will not go ahead of those who have died.
00:57:08 There will be the shout of command, the angels' voice, the sounds of God's trumpet, and the Lord himself will come down from heaven.
00:57:21 And those who have died believing in Christ will rise to life first.
00:57:27 Then we who are living at that time will be gathered up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
00:57:38 And so we will always for eternity be together with the Lord.
00:57:45 So then, encourage one another with these words.
00:57:50 And I would say to all of you, please make sure you're going to heaven. There's only one way.
00:58:18 When you stand in the face of death and sorrow and loss, you feel so helpless because it's a thing you can't control.
00:58:32 It's that mystery. We try to control our lives so well, we try to keep that at bay.
00:58:41 But in the end there's nothing we can do. It feels really desperate at times to be faced with the wrenching and tearing of the loss.
00:58:54 But I want you to encourage you to think really carefully about the words that you've heard,
00:59:01 all of the words that you've heard from the people who so bravely, in their wrenching, tearing of sorrow, have stood here and told you about their faith.
00:59:12 And it's coming not because they've been taught to say those things.
00:59:17 Haven't you seen? It's come from the very heart and soul of who they are. It's in them.
00:59:23 It's living, it's real.
00:59:26 The faith that they have is a real thing. They sense it, they know it.
00:59:32 And I want to say to you this, that we also stand today in the presence of a different mystery,
00:59:40 something else that you can't control. And that is the amazing and extraordinary mystery of love.
00:59:51 Yes, the love of a small boy for his mummy and his daddy, his grandparents and his sister,
01:00:01 and his friends, a different kind of love for his friends who are here as well.
01:00:08 Yes, the love of people as they take care of others, as they give of themselves,
01:00:15 to give as much as they can for our lives to be together and the best that they can be.
01:00:24 But also, as you've heard, the love of the God who is here and real and with us and in us all the time.
01:00:32 There is not one person here who hasn't got the spark of God's life in them.
01:00:38 You know, don't you, that the things that we can touch, see, hear, taste, feel are not the only reality.
01:00:49 Each one of us has got a spark of life in us which is a gift from God, the presence of God within us.
01:00:59 And Jesus came, as you've been hearing, to speak the truth and to demonstrate it in his life about what love is really like.
01:01:12 And I thank God that there is the opportunity for us, while we still have breath, to be able to share that love together.
01:01:22 Thank you for being here today. Thank you for showing your love to this grieving family.
01:01:28 I'd also like to thank the family, especially those who have spoken, for speaking so well about the love that they know.
01:01:36 They know in their hearts, through all that will has been and done and said and seen and shared,
01:01:44 but also of the God who shines through the eyes that we've been just given a glimpse of through their words today.
01:01:52 Thank you so much, all of you.
01:01:56 And so, the promise is this in the Gospel, is that in the midst of sorrow there can be joy.
01:02:06 They do seem exclusive things, don't they? But they really, really aren't.
01:02:12 It's in the tearing darkness that the light shines the brightest. See it. See it today, somehow.
01:02:24 We're going to have the song "Joyful, Joyful Now".
01:02:28 [Piano playing]
01:02:54 Joyful, joyful Lord, we adore Thee. God of glory, Lord of love.
01:03:12 Our support and our words before Thee. Healthy as the sun above,
01:03:30 Ever cleansing, trident of time, pouring down your way.
01:03:48 Heavenly home in a mountain vast, endless with the light,
01:04:02 endless with the light of day.
01:04:22 Joyful, joyful Lord, we adore Thee. God of glory, Lord of love.
01:04:32 Our support and our words before Thee. Healthy as the sun above,
01:04:42 Ever cleansing, trident of time, pouring down your way.
01:04:52 Heavenly home in a mountain vast, endless with the light,
01:05:02 endless with the light of day. Joyful, joyful. Joyful, joyful Lord, we adore Thee.
01:05:12 God of glory, Lord of love. Our support and our words before Thee.
01:05:22 Heavenly home in a mountain vast, endless with the light,
01:05:32 endless with the light of day.
01:05:42 Oh, dear Lord. Oh, dear Lord. Oh, dear Lord. Oh, dear Lord.
01:06:10 Fill us, fill us with the light of day. Fill us, fill us with the light of day.
01:06:30 Light of day.
01:06:38 [APPLAUSE]
01:06:47 Let us pray.
01:06:50 God of mercy, Lord of life, you have made us in your image to reflect your truth and light.
01:06:58 We give you thanks for William, for the grace and mercy he received from you,
01:07:04 for all that was good in his life, for the memories we treasure today.
01:07:12 You promised eternal life to those who believe. Remember for good this your servant William.
01:07:20 Bring all who rest in Christ into the fullness of your kingdom, where sins have been forgiven and death is no more.
01:07:35 Your mighty power brings joy out of grief and life out of death.
01:07:41 Look in mercy on Laura, his mother, on William, his father, for all his family and for all who mourn.
01:07:52 Give them patient faith in times of darkness. Strengthen them with the knowledge of your love.
01:08:05 You are tender towards your children and your mercy is over all your works.
01:08:11 Heal the memories of hurt and failure. Give us the wisdom and grace to use aright the time that is left to us here on earth,
01:08:22 to turn to Christ and follow in his steps in the way that leads to everlasting life.
01:08:33 God of mercy, entrusting into your hands all that you have made and rejoicing in our communion with all your faithful people,
01:08:42 we make our prayers through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
01:08:49 Let us join together in the Lord's Prayer, the words you will find in your service sheet.
01:08:57 Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
01:09:08 Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
01:09:18 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
01:09:31 Thank you. Now I'd like to ask Lucy to come and read her poem.
01:09:44 In the garden of memories where laughter rings, a little boy played with dreams on his wings.
01:09:50 Seven years of sunshine, seven years of rain, a life cut short leaving hearts in pain.
01:09:56 Oh little boy with eyes so bright, your laughter echoes a pure delight.
01:10:01 Your tiny hands, your tousled hair, your presence lingers everywhere.
01:10:06 You danced with the wind and you sang with the birds and your laughter was music beyond any words.
01:10:12 You painted the world with your innocent joy, oh how we miss you our precious boy.
01:10:17 In the night sky a new star shines, a beacon of love that forever binds.
01:10:23 A little boy's spirit forever free, in our hearts you'll always be.
01:10:29 Though tears may fall and hearts may ache, your memory will never forsake.
01:10:34 For in our hearts you'll always stay, our little boy who passed away.
01:10:39 In the garden of memories where love resides, a little boy plays on the other side.
01:10:44 Seven years of joy forever in bloom, in our hearts you'll always have room.
01:10:49 So sleep tight our little star, and though you're gone you're never far.
01:10:54 In every sunrise, in every night's hush, in every moment we feel your touch.
01:10:59 Goodbye little one, your journey's begun, a life caught short.
01:11:06 A life cut short but beautifully sung, in the garden of memories under the sky so blue, our little boy will always love you.
01:11:14 Now I'd like to ask Dee to come and read Dragonflies.
01:11:33 Hello, for those of you who don't know me, I'm William's Auntie Dee Dee.
01:11:38 I would like to read you a story, the dragonfly story.
01:11:43 There were once some water bugs, dragonfly larvae, living at the bottom of a pond.
01:11:49 Every now and then one of them climbed a long stalk in the water and left the pond.
01:11:55 The other bugs wondered where they had gone, as they never returned once they had left.
01:12:01 Two of the water bugs agreed that if either of them were to leave, they would come back and tell the others what it was like.
01:12:09 One day, one of the water bugs began to climb the stalk to leave the pond.
01:12:15 Once on top of the pond, he breathed air, grew wings and became the most beautiful dragonfly.
01:12:22 He flitted from plant to plant, so happy in his new form.
01:12:27 He remembered his promise to his friend to go back and share what he had seen.
01:12:32 However, no matter how hard he tried, he could not return below the water.
01:12:38 Instead, he could only make ripples on the surface of the water with his legs and wings.
01:12:44 He hoped his family and friends would see the ripples and know that he was safe and happy.
01:12:50 So the dragonfly regularly returned to the water to leave ripples for them, until they too would join him above the pond.
01:12:58 We love you, Bubby. See you again one day.
01:13:02 [Applause]
01:13:11 We have our next song, Rise Up.
01:13:16 [Music]
01:13:34 You're broken down and tired of living life on the moon.
01:13:43 But you can find the fight of the world.
01:13:47 I see it in you, so we gonna work it out.
01:13:51 And move mountains.
01:13:57 We gonna work it out.
01:14:00 And move mountains.
01:14:07 And I'll rise up, rise like the day.
01:14:12 And I'll rise up, rise unafraid.
01:14:16 And I'll rise up, do it a thousand times again.
01:14:24 And I'll rise up, high like the waves.
01:14:29 And I'll rise up, in spite of the ache.
01:14:33 And I'll rise up, and I'll do it a thousand times again.
01:14:39 For you.
01:14:44 For you.
01:14:49 For you.
01:14:52 For you.
01:14:57 The silence isn't quiet.
01:15:02 And it feels like it's getting hard to breathe.
01:15:07 And I know you feel like you're dying.
01:15:11 But I promise you'll take the world to its feet.
01:15:15 And move mountains.
01:15:21 We'll bring it to its feet.
01:15:23 And move mountains.
01:15:30 And I'll rise up, rise like the day.
01:15:34 And I'll rise up, rise unafraid.
01:15:38 And I'll rise up, and I'll do it a thousand times again.
01:15:46 For you.
01:15:50 For you.
01:15:54 For you.
01:15:58 For you.
01:16:03 All we need, all we need is hope.
01:16:08 That we have, we have each other.
01:16:12 Yeah, yeah.
01:16:18 We will rise, we will rise, we will rise.
01:16:22 We'll rise, rise, yeah.
01:16:32 And I'll rise up, rise like the day.
01:16:36 I'll rise up, in spite of the ache.
01:16:40 I'll rise up, and I'll do it a thousand times again.
01:16:46 Yeah.
01:16:48 I'll rise up, high like the waves.
01:16:52 I'll rise up, in spite of the ache.
01:16:56 I'll rise up, and I'll do it a thousand times again.
01:17:05 For you.
01:17:10 For you.
01:17:14 For you.
01:17:18 For you.
01:17:23 You.
01:17:28 You.
01:17:32 For you.
01:17:36 You.
01:17:42 [APPLAUSE]
01:17:50 This is the moment when we take our leave and say goodbye.
01:17:55 So many words of encouragement, but this is one of the reasons why we're here to support you,
01:18:01 and one another as we finally say our goodbyes.
01:18:05 Before I say the words, I would like to ask you just to be quiet for a moment.
01:18:15 And in the silence of your own heart, to say your own goodbyes to William.
01:18:36 And now let's stand together.
01:18:42 So let us commend William Ian Brown to the mercy of God, our maker and our redeemer.
01:18:54 God, our creator and redeemer, by your power, Christ conquered death and entered into glory.
01:19:03 Confident of his victory and claiming his promises, we entrust William to your mercy.
01:19:11 In the name of Jesus, our Lord, who died and is alive and reigns with you now and forever.
01:19:20 May he be surrounded by your peace and rest in your love forever. Amen.
01:19:31 So may God give you his comfort and his peace, his light and his joy in this world and the next.
01:19:46 And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be upon us
01:19:56 and be with you all and on William and all those whom William has loved, prayed and cared for in his lifetime. Amen.
01:20:13 Just one final thing to say.
01:20:16 Could you please stay where you are and allow the family and friends who are going to be gathered around the graveside, let them go first.
01:20:27 If you're coming out to gather around for the burial, then please would you take a tea light as you go.
01:20:32 They're by the door. Make sure you take one because we'll be using them in the ceremony around the graveside.
01:20:38 Thank you, sir. Thank you, guys.
01:21:00 When the night has come and the land is dark and the moon is the only light you'll see.
01:21:19 No, I won't be afraid. No, I won't be afraid.
01:21:28 Just as long as you stand, stand by me.
01:21:36 So darling, darling, stand by me.
01:21:43 Stand by me. Stand, stand, stand by me.
01:21:57 Stand by me. Stand by me. Stand, stand, stand by me.
01:22:15 When the night that we look upon shall tumble and fall and the mountain shall crumble to the sea.
01:22:33 I won't cry. I won't cry. No, I won't shed a tear.
01:22:42 Just as long as you stand, stand by me.
01:22:49 So darling, darling, stand by me.
01:22:56 Stand by me. Stand by me. Stand by me.
01:23:07 Sing it again. Stand by me. Stand by me.
01:23:13 Won't you stand by me? Won't you stand by me?
01:23:23 Won't you stand by me? Whenever you're alone, stand by me.
01:23:31 Whenever you're alone, stand by me. Won't you stand by me?
01:23:42 Stand by me. Stand by me. Stand by me.
01:24:02 Won't you stand? Won't you stand? Stand by my side. Stand by me. Stand by me. Stand by me.
01:24:15 Won't you stand? Just be by my side. Just stand by me. I need you to be by my side.
01:24:26 Just stand. Just stand by me. Just stand by me. Won't you stand?
01:24:37 Stand by me. Stand by me. Stand by me.
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