Hundreds pack church to celebrate Luke's life (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Hundreds pack church to celebrate Luke's life

HUNDREDS of mourners packed the church and spilled out into the churchyard of St Peter and St Paul in Blockley for the funeral of a promising young swimmer who died in a tragic accident two weeks ago.

Young and old rubbed shoulders as the Rev Grahame Humphries conducted a service of celebration for the life of 15-year-old Luke Jeffrey who drowned during a training session at the Fire College in Moreton.

The aspiring Olympic athlete, who had dreamed of representing his country in the 2012 London games, was spotted in difficulty but it was too late to save him.

During the service last Friday, tributes, both amusing and sad, came from his diving and swimming club friends, his former scout group in Moreton, the football team he played for, Moreton Rangers, and his schoolmates at Chipping Campden School.

He was, in their words, a great friend, a great sportsman, a character from day one, the kind of person a stand-up comedian would love to see in an audience, constantly happy, the best kind of friend, and the youngster who packed so much into such a short time.

One fellow swimmer told the congregation: "He was so much faster than me and always so far ahead that I knew the bottom of his feet better than he did."

His swimming coach, Jack Siddle, who had hopes of him progressing to national level and competing in the 2012 Olympics, remembered him being late for a swimming session: "He said to me 'I had grandmother trouble - she was driving.'"

One of his best friends, Richard Ing, who said he would always think of Luke as a brother, told everyone: "I'll always remember him for his cheeky smile and always making me laugh."

Schoolmates read poems they had written especially for him, including one with a line: "I was convinced he was born a fish."

Luke's mum, Melanie, ended the tributes with a poem of her own, including: "We miss the funny things you did, the way you loved your food, the mess you made in the kitchen, the jokes - not all of them rude! You were always busy with something, some scheme you had in hand. But most of all we miss you Luke, and the smiles that melted out hearts."

The celebration included the playing of Luke's favourite song, Spitfire by Prodigy, and a reading from St Luke's gospel - the parable of The Good Samaritan.

The Rev Humphries told the hundreds gathered on the warm, sunny afternoon,: "Luke would have always been a Good Samaritan to someone in need."

Luke's cremation was at Oakley Wood, Wellesbourne. A party for all his friends was held at the White Hart in Moreton on Friday evening.

A full inquest will be heard on a date to be fixed.