Four black horses pulled the hearse that led the funeral cortege

Published: 22 November 2012
by ALICE HUTTON

HUNDREDS packed Our Lady of Hal Church in Camden Town on Thursday to pay their last respects to a “wonderful” young father who was beaten to death in Liverpool.

Stuart Smith, 33, died in hospital on September 2 after suffering serious head and neck injuries while visiting the city with friends.

More than 300 family and friends paid tribute to him at the Catholic church in Arlington Road.

The hearse was pulled by four black horses and the funeral cortège included three motorcyclists, to reflect Stuart’s well-known love of bikes. The coffin was draped in a signed Spurs football shirt.

Mr Smith’s partner Nicola Murray said: “We feel we gave Stuart the send-off he would have wanted. We were touched by the many people who came to pay their respects. The support we have had over this time from our friends and families has been a great comfort to us.

“We shared memories and celebrated his life. Stuart would have been proud of his girl Summer Lily.”

The bricklayer and scaffolder, who grew up in Camden Town but was living in Islington at the time of his death, is survived by Nicola, his girlfriend of 10 years, and three-year-old daughter Summer Lily.

Kirstie Douse, a friend of Nicola’s, read eulogies from the family, including mother Anne Price, father Gerry Smith and Stuart’s two grandmothers, as well as a tribute on behalf of his friends.

She spoke of the generosity and kindness he showed to everyone he met and read a message from Nicola, who said: “Everything you did you did for me and Summer.

“Nothing will ever be the same again. It has been a roller-coaster of a decade but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m proud to be your girl.”

There was laughter as Ms Douse recalled Stuart’s favourite catchphrase: “I promise you a 100 million per cent bruv.”

She added: “You can see how much Stuart was loved by how many people are here today. Stuart will live on in his beautiful daughter Summer.”

A poem written by Stuart’s mother Anne, entitled “My Son”, was read. It recalled his “big blue eyes and hearty laugh”.

At the close of the service pallbearers carried the coffin out of the church to the sounds of Mariah Carey’s One Sweet Day and rapper Flo Rida’s Good Feeling.

The New Journal previously reported the family’s concern that a prolonged investigation by the coroner meant they were originally asked to bury Stuart without all his organs. After 11 weeks his body was finally released intact for burial. Four men have been charged with his murder.