As the final verse of Coldplay’s Fix You rang out through crowded Rochester Cathedral, candles were held aloft by family and friends of the inspirational Jody Duff.

The emotional gesture came at the end of a funeral service filled with tears and laughter, a fitting tribute to a man who never let anything get in his way.

Brave Jody, of Fanconi Road, Lordswood, lost his battle with motor neurone disease on October 4, but has left a lasting legacy.

In the last four months he raised almost £40,000 for the MND Association, but for his friends and family, his strength and positive mental attitude is his enduring memory.

The service on Wednesday was led by Canon Philip Hesketh who said Jody had always wanted his funeral to be held in the cathedral which he had called a pretty amazing building.

Tributes were read by his family Rikki, Lauri, Alicia and Chayla, his best friend Adam Powell, and Aaron Stone, manager of Rochester’s Casino Rooms where Jody had been a regular visitor since he turned 18.

Jody was described as a man who always overcame obstacles, and if he could not, then he just got someone to lift his chair over it for him.

Despite being born with spina bifida, Jody beat the odds time and time again – doctors said he would never sit up, never walk but Jody went on to walk, drive, work and inspire everyone who met him.

Jody was exceptionally intelligent and loved technology, working at Chatham South school and Pfizer in Sandwich.

He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2010, but best friend Adam said he was more concerned about how everyone else would cope than himself.

In the last year, Jody has organised several fundraising events for the MND Association and when he met his musical hereos, Coldplay, at the Royal Albert Hall in July they donated £10,000 to the cause.

Frontman Chris Martin then invited him to come to the show the following evening where he dedicated Jody’s favourite song, Fix You, to him.

Jody chose this song, along with Aerosmith’s I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing and Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy, for his funeral and requested that everyone should dress in traditional black.

The ceremony was followed by a private family service at Medway Crematorium, then a wake at Lordswood Leisure Centre.

Donations to www.justgiving.com/JodyDuff.