MORE THAN 300 mourners gathered at Chelmsford Cathedral on Monday to say a final farewell to a popular teenager "who was always smiling".
The family and friends of Ashley Woolley, who was fatally stabbed in Oaklands Park on December 18, just weeks before his 19th birthday, courageously insisted they wanted the day to be a celebration of his life.
And it was a send-off that did him proud, according to his devastated father Trevor Woolley, 45, of Witham, who said the happy-go-lucky lad "would have loved the attention".
From the moment the Chelmsford College student's coffin was lifted by his brave best friends, brother and father, to the Bob Marley song that closed the service, his parents were determined the day would reflect the person their beloved son was.
Alongside the flowers and Ashley's favourite hat, which adorned his coffin, his family placed a collage of all the tributes left by friends outside Oaklands Park at the front of the cathedral, while some cards and letters from friends travelled with him in the hearse.
"It was Ashley's final journey, and I wanted him to make it with the messages from his friends," Trevor explained.
"I couldn't have asked for a better send-off for him. It was the saddest day of my life, but we had family and friends there, and all the kids I met were so lovely, and were truly sad to say goodbye as well."
As his best friends – Ian Day, Tommy Blay, Asa Butler and William Secker – father Trevor and brother Paul carried him into the service, Ashley's favourite song, Forever Young by Jay-Z, poignantly played out to those who had come to say goodbye – an overwhelming number of whom were teenagers, clearly distraught to be sitting at the funeral of their 18-year-old friend.
Addressing the packed cathedral, his mother Maria, 44, who shared her home Rutland Road home with Ash, spoke of the moment he was born, saying her life had filled with light when he was in it.
efering to a song by her youngest son's favourite singer, Bob Marley, she said: "Three little birds have taken you to heaven Ash. We love you."
Emotional tributes were also read out by the business student's father Trevor and brother Paul, 25, who said: "When I first went to the hospital to see my little brother, I promised myself I would always protect him".
The 18-year-old's best friend Ian Day, 19, who set up a fund for people to donate towards the funeral, spoke of a friend who he had expected to know for the rest of his life.
He said: "I wrote this ahead of time, but I knew when I was writing it that the cathedral would be packed.
"Me and Ashley made so many plans of the goals we were going to achieve together. But we still will, because with Ash by my side I know I can do anything.
"I will achieve our goals for you," he promised his friend.
"I thought me and Ash would grow old together and cause trouble in a retirement home, just like we did when we were kids."
"Make sure you save me a seat up there, right next to you," he added.
The Reverend James Ridge asked that people remember the life Ashley led, rather than the violent way he died, and said he was in a peaceful place where there were "no tears".
Mr Ridge also read two poems, The Dash, by Linda Ellis, and Afterglow, both of which touched on the importance of how a life has been lived, rather than how or when it ended.
Ashley's friend Asa spoke of how deeply missed he is by his close friends and girlfriend Charlotte. He added: "As those of you who knew him well will know, Ash never remembered to close doors.
"Ash, make sure you leave the gates open for us, so we can try to sneak in."
After the service and a private burial at Chelmsford Cemetery, the day continued at the Blue Lion pub in Great Baddow.
Trevor said: "The place was filled with his friends – 18-year-olds, talking, laughing, playing pool. He would have loved it."
