|
|
 |
| |
Friends' farewell to Tommy
Youths in hoods among mourners paying
final respects to stabbed teenager
Mourners at Monday’s funeral |
HUNDREDS of mourners, including youths wearing hoods, packed
St Silas the Martyr Church in Kentish Town on Monday to pay
tribute to stabbing victim Tommy Winston.
Buried with the logo of his favourite sports brand, Nike, engraved
in brass on his coffin, Tommy was honoured in verse by his cousin,
Jenny Stones, sister Charley and girlfriend Penny Jane Taylor
during a 40- minute service at the church where he was baptised,
less than half a mile from his home in Athlone Street.
Dozens of mourners stood outside the church, with more than
350 crammed inside, to pay their final respects to the popular
18-year-old, who was stabbed to death in Brecknock Road on January
3.
Tommy’s mother, Dee Roberts, had urged his friends to show
up in their usual clothes if they did not have suits because
she did not want anyone to miss out.
Father Graeme Rowlands, officiating, praised Tommy’s sense
of humour and his decent priorities in life.
He said: “Although Tommy’s death was nearly a month
ago, we are all still in a state of shock.
“We feel angry we have been robbed of someone we loved
so much. And we feel that perhaps we didn’t make as much
of the moments when he was around as we could.”
He added: “Tommy lived his life to the full. He didn’t
waste time. He knew what he wanted to achieve and he just got
on and did it. He often stopped to help people, even those he
didn’t know.”
Songs by Mariah Carey, Beyonce and Texas were played and the
mourners laughed when, with Fr Graeme’s agreement, Ms Taylor
read racy sections from a love letter Tommy had sent her.
It said: “I would miss your sexy legs when you wear a skirt,
I would also miss your big, fat tits!”
Tommy was later buried at Finchley Cemetery, where two white
doves and 20 balloons with his face on them were released.
• Tyrell Anderson, 19, is charged with Tommy Winston’s
murder. He next appears at the Old Bailey in April. |
| |
|
|
|
