Friends of stab victim Ben Kinsella celebrated his life by turning up to his funeral wearing fancy dress on Friday.
Many people wore colourful wigs and large sunglasses as they paid their last respects to Ben, 16, who was stabbed in north London last month.
Others attending the service at the church in Islington, north London, wore T-shirts bearing anti-knife slogans.
About 1,000 people, including the local MP and TV actors, attended the service.
Ben’s sister, former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, 24, said: “Please, please let us learn from Ben and every other child that has been stolen from us.”
Ben’s close friend Brooke Dunford, 16, said: “He wouldn’t have wanted everyone to wear black.”
Outside the church she laid a bunch of flowers with a note which read:
The most saddest day of my life, Ben, when I lost you.
I will hold you in my heart forever, I love you, you hottie.
Former EastEnders actresses Gillian Taylforth and Michelle Ryan and MP for Islington North Jeremy Corbyn were among those present at the funeral.
Also in attendance was Richard Taylor, whose 10-year-old son Damilola was stabbed to death with broken glass in November 2000 in Peckham, south east London.
A website and charity have also been set up in Ben’s memory, with funds going to teen weapons awareness campaigns.
Source: BBC
Filed under: Media, News Tagged: | ben kinsella, Brooke Kinsella, Damilola Taylor, Eastenders, Jeremy Corbyn, knife crime, stab victim funeral
