'Goodbye my beautiful' - Friends and family dressed in a flash of pink say tearful farewell to Brianna Ghey
15.03.2023 - 23:09
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Just as she would have wanted, mourners filed into church dressed with a vivacious flash of pink. A pink scarf. A pink umbrella. Pink leggings. It didn't matter as long there was a hint of pink somewhere.
Then Brianna Ghey's horse-drawn hearse came into view. The coffin inside was pink. The roses atop were pink. The two horses were dressed with pink feathers.
It was what her family had requested for the 'larger than life' transgender girl from Birchwood in Warrington who, aged just 16 with her whole life in front of her, was stabbed to death in Culcheth Linear Park in Warrington on Saturday February 11.
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Today (Wednesday) her home town paused to say goodbye, and weep. Hundreds of friends, family and well-wishers crammed into Elphin's Parish Church for her funeral service.
The theme might have been pink but some of the mourners wore t-shirts with 'rest in power' emblazoned across the front. After the hearse pulled up outside the church doors, six pall bearers carried the brightly coloured coffin into the service, as mourners queued up alongside The Ring O'Bells pub waiting to be admitted and the church bells tolled.
Brianna was carried in to the sound of Video Games by Lana Del Rey. When everyone seated, the service was delivered by Rev Debbie Lovatt. The outpouring of emotion and tears that followed was almost too much to bear. Gut-wrenching, heart-breaking eulogies were delivered.
After the congregation sang Amazing Grace and a bible reading (Psalm 139), the first tribute was read out on behalf of Brianna's grandmother, who said: "Goodbye my beautiful granddaughter Brianna as you embark on life's greatest