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Alan Greaves death: funeral for church organist Alan Greaves death: funeral for church organist
(about 1 hour later)
Hundreds of people have attended the funeral of a church organist who died after being assaulted on Christmas Eve.Hundreds of people have attended the funeral of a church organist who died after being assaulted on Christmas Eve.
Alan Greaves, 68, from High Green, Sheffield, was on his way to Midnight Mass when he was attacked on 24 December. He died three days later.Alan Greaves, 68, from High Green, Sheffield, was on his way to Midnight Mass when he was attacked on 24 December. He died three days later.
Members of the public gathered outside St Saviour's Church to listen to the service on speakers. During the service Mr Greaves's widow, Maureen, described her husband as "a truly beautiful man".
Jonathan Bowling, 22, and Ashley Foster, 21, have been charged with Mr Greaves murder.Jonathan Bowling, 22, and Ashley Foster, 21, have been charged with Mr Greaves murder.
Well wishers lining the streets of High Green watched in silence as the funeral cortege drove by. Mrs Greaves spoke of her husband's compassion, faith and devotion to his family during the eulogy at St Saviour's Church in High Green.
The hearse was greeted at the church by Mr Greaves' widow, Maureen, who followed the wicker coffin into the church. She said: "Alan bought me my last bunch of flowers on Christmas Eve morning. When I went to thank Alan and give him a kiss, he said, 'I love you so much Maureen, so much, and I'm so glad that I married you'. I answered with the same."
Mrs Greaves had said earlier the service would be open to all. Hundreds of well wishers had lined the streets of High Green in silence as the funeral cortege was driven by.
The funeral was also relayed to the nearby St Mary's Roman Catholic Church due to the limited seating at St Saviour's. The funeral was relayed to the nearby St Mary's Roman Catholic Church due to the limited seating at St Saviour's.
The Reverend Canon Simon Bessant, the vicar at St Saviour's, said the couple had planned their funerals before a trip to Mozambique in 2007. Crowds standing outside were also able to listen to the service via speakers.
"The service at one level is a traditional funeral service but there will be a number of tributes from people who knew him well. Everything we are doing today is exactly what Alan had chosen," he said. The Reverend Canon Simon Bessant, the vicar at St Saviour's, said the funeral had been a traditional one based on plans the couple had made before a trip to Mozambique in 2007.
The BBC's Kate Bradbrook href="https://twitter.com/katebradbrook" >tweeted around 800 people were expected to pay their respects to the father-of-four. "Everything we are doing today is exactly what Alan had chosen," he said.