Nearly 150 people who knew and loved knife victim Luke
Brocklebank gathered at historic St Mary’s Church in Chartham for
his funeral.

Young and old, they came mostly from the Canterbury area, the place
Luke called home until his life was cut short at the age of 26 in
April.

The mourners included his family, friends and teachers from the
Beauherne and Chaucers schools he attended, parents of his friends,
his neighbours from the London Road Estate where he grew up and
those who worked with him in the various jobs he held.

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Watch: Mourners pay
tribute at Luke's funeral

Led by his father Barrie, they entered the church – parts of
which date back to early 14th century – to the sound of Blowing in
the Wind by Bob Dylan.

The Rev Phil Brown, a softly spoken Geordie, delivered the
eulogy.

He said: “I did not know Luke, but I’m sure if we stayed here
all day we would hear story after story about him, memory after
memory, laughter and tears.

“People will remember him working for Alan Upward on the punts on
the River Stour when he would throw himself off the bridge to amuse
waiting visitors.

“He was a jack-the-lad who brought out the positive, he always had
a smile and would always help people where he could.”

The reverend went on: “Death is a great thief. It steals from us
people who cannot be replaced, but as Jesus says, we have to have a
little faith because death is not the end.”

Earlier mourners were treated to You Do Something To Me by Paul
Weller, a song close to the hearts of Luke and his girlfriend
Josephine, the mother of their five-year-old son Liam.

Three Little Birds by Bob Marley, a song Luke and his mother
Tina Denby enjoyed, was also played.

Barrie Brocklebank, 63, who lives at Shipman Avenue, said: “It was
a lovely funeral and the vicar was very good, he really told it
like it was and it truly reflected Luke’s character.”

After the funeral, mourners went to the George Inn at Shalmsford
Street for the wake.

Ikikibiya Manual, 19, from Camberwell in south-east
London has been charged with Mr Brocklebank’s murder and is in
custody awaiting trial.An inquest into his death
has also formally been opened and adjourned.