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| Dalian Atkinson funeral draws family, fans and former football stars Dalian Atkinson funeral draws family, fans and former football stars | |
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| Former football stars have joined mourners as emotional tributes were paid to the ex-Aston Villa striker Dalian Atkinson at his funeral. | Former football stars have joined mourners as emotional tributes were paid to the ex-Aston Villa striker Dalian Atkinson at his funeral. |
| The 48-year-old died after police shot him with a Taser when officers were called to an incident in his home town of Telford, Shropshire, earlier this year. | The 48-year-old died after police shot him with a Taser when officers were called to an incident in his home town of Telford, Shropshire, earlier this year. |
| Hundreds of mourners – including family members, fans and the former Villa players Ian Taylor and Tommy Johnson – gathered at the town’s crematorium on Saturday. | Hundreds of mourners – including family members, fans and the former Villa players Ian Taylor and Tommy Johnson – gathered at the town’s crematorium on Saturday. |
| Atkinsonwas fired on in the street where he had grown up in an incident involving West Mercia police officers on 15 August. He died 90 minutes later, despite hospital doctors carrying out CPR for more than half an hour to try to save him. | Atkinsonwas fired on in the street where he had grown up in an incident involving West Mercia police officers on 15 August. He died 90 minutes later, despite hospital doctors carrying out CPR for more than half an hour to try to save him. |
| During the humanist service, the celebrant, Peter Mansell, said: “There was no one quite like Dalian. There never was before and there never will be again.” | During the humanist service, the celebrant, Peter Mansell, said: “There was no one quite like Dalian. There never was before and there never will be again.” |
| He described how, as a boy, Atkinson played street football in Meadow Close – the same road where he was shot by police – with his brothers and friends. While still at school, he was spotted by talent scouts, leading to his apprenticeship at Ipswich Town FC. | He described how, as a boy, Atkinson played street football in Meadow Close – the same road where he was shot by police – with his brothers and friends. While still at school, he was spotted by talent scouts, leading to his apprenticeship at Ipswich Town FC. |
| “He found sitting at a school desk boring, but excelled at football and athletics.” | “He found sitting at a school desk boring, but excelled at football and athletics.” |
| Mansell said Atkinson loved the “playboy lifestyle” and was “energetic, cheeky and funny” but also “generous, caring and protective”. | Mansell said Atkinson loved the “playboy lifestyle” and was “energetic, cheeky and funny” but also “generous, caring and protective”. |
| A family man, he was “an inspiration to his nieces and nephews” and often went home “for his mother’s home cooking”. | A family man, he was “an inspiration to his nieces and nephews” and often went home “for his mother’s home cooking”. |
| “For those who loved Dalian, a part of their world is gone.” | “For those who loved Dalian, a part of their world is gone.” |
| Atkinson’s niece Josie said: “Inspiration is the word most appropriate to you, a figure I looked up to and still do.” | Atkinson’s niece Josie said: “Inspiration is the word most appropriate to you, a figure I looked up to and still do.” |
| Another niece, Cleo, said: “You had such a charismatic soul and enriched everyone’s lives with your intellect, insight and warmth, never failing to make people around you laugh.” | Another niece, Cleo, said: “You had such a charismatic soul and enriched everyone’s lives with your intellect, insight and warmth, never failing to make people around you laugh.” |
| Concluding the service, mourners were told there was “only one song” left to play in Atkinson’s memory - En Vogue’s What A Man. | Concluding the service, mourners were told there was “only one song” left to play in Atkinson’s memory - En Vogue’s What A Man. |