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Shoreham air crash: Funerals held for two victims | Shoreham air crash: Funerals held for two victims |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The funerals of two victims of the Shoreham air crash have been held in East Sussex. | The funerals of two victims of the Shoreham air crash have been held in East Sussex. |
A service for Maurice Abrahams was held in Rottingdean. He was working as a chauffeur and was on his way to pick up a bride on her wedding day when the crash happened in West Sussex. | A service for Maurice Abrahams was held in Rottingdean. He was working as a chauffeur and was on his way to pick up a bride on her wedding day when the crash happened in West Sussex. |
A private ceremony was also held for Worthing footballer Jacob Schilt. | |
Eleven people died when a vintage jet crashed on to the A27 during the Shoreham Airshow on 22 August. | Eleven people died when a vintage jet crashed on to the A27 during the Shoreham Airshow on 22 August. |
Witnesses have said Mr Abrahams gave way to another car moments before the crash, but then his Daimler was hit as he waited at traffic lights. | Witnesses have said Mr Abrahams gave way to another car moments before the crash, but then his Daimler was hit as he waited at traffic lights. |
His funeral was held at St Margaret's Church, where he had taken brides on their wedding day. | |
Father Martin Morgan said the 76-year-old former soldier and police officer gave service to his country and the community, and it was believed his last actions were to save other people. | |
"Maurice was one of those people who was always around and would always speak and always smile and did a lot of work to make life easier for the people of Rottingdean and Ovingdean and beyond. He was a man who just gave," he added. | "Maurice was one of those people who was always around and would always speak and always smile and did a lot of work to make life easier for the people of Rottingdean and Ovingdean and beyond. He was a man who just gave," he added. |
He described him as a "unique", "extraordinary" and "special" man who always dressed immaculately. | |
Father Morgan told mourners: "Thinking about him in the midst of all the horror that happened and the tragedy that happened, one of the words that keeps coming to my mind is 'service'. | |
"He gave service to his nation in various ways - as a guardsman, as a paratrooper and as a policeman." | |
Mourners included his wife Edwina, son Eddie and daughter Lizzie. | |
Before the Last Post sounded ahead of a private committal, friend David Spalding said he was a devoted family man who gave his wife flowers every Saturday and "made friends at the drop of a hat". | |
Friends and family attending the service were asked to take written memories of Mr Abrahams, and hand-picked flowers. | Friends and family attending the service were asked to take written memories of Mr Abrahams, and hand-picked flowers. |
Ahead of the ceremony, Father Morgan said the flowers and memories would be a release for people - and he said the floral tributes on the bridge near the crash scene had also showed how people had been able to say what they felt, without words. | Ahead of the ceremony, Father Morgan said the flowers and memories would be a release for people - and he said the floral tributes on the bridge near the crash scene had also showed how people had been able to say what they felt, without words. |
"I think our society needs that. Today is going to be a celebration of his life," he said. "It's going to be heartbreaking for his family and for so many people, but it's a celebration of what humanity can be like." | "I think our society needs that. Today is going to be a celebration of his life," he said. "It's going to be heartbreaking for his family and for so many people, but it's a celebration of what humanity can be like." |
The victims: | The victims: |