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Tunisia beach attack: Funeral of former footballer and wife Tunisia attack: Funeral of former footballer and wife
(about 1 hour later)
The funeral is taking place of ex-footballer Denis Thwaites and wife Elaine who were killed in last month's attack on tourists at a Tunisian beach. The deaths of Denis and Elaine Thwaites in the Tunisia terror attack were "ugly, brutal and inexcusable", mourners at their funeral were told.
The service began at 13:00 BST at the United Reform Church, in Fairhaven, Lytham, Lancashire. Mr Thwaites, 70, and his wife, 69, were among 30 British tourists killed in a gun attack in Sousse on 26 June.
Mr Thwaites, 70, and his 69-year-old wife, were staying at the Hotel Riu Imperial Marhaba in Sousse when the gun attack took place on 26 June. The Reverend David Phillips told mourners in Fairhaven, Lytham, the couple were "two lovely, beautiful and precious people."
Stockton-born Mr Thwaites played for Birmingham City between 1962 and 1972. Mr Thwaites played football for Birmingham City from 1962-1972.
He was part of the squad that won the 1963 League Cup and retired from football at 27, later moving with his family to Blackpool, where he worked as a hospital porter. Onlookers wiped away tears and embraced each other as the funeral cortege arrived at Fairhaven United Reformed Church, known locally as The White Church.
The funeral will be followed by a private family service. The congregation heard the couple, who made Blackpool their home for the past 35 years, had looked forward to their stay at the Hotel Riu Imperial Marhaba.
Most of the 38 people killed in the attacks were British. Mr Phillips told mourners everyone had been "acutely aware of our helplessness" towards the "terrible thing that has happened".
Gunman Seifeddine Rezgui, was thought to have been part of a network inspired by Islamic State militants. He added: "Hearts have been broken, lives have been deeply scarred.
"Two lovely, beautiful and precious people have had their lives taken from them, without cause, and with a violence that was wholly undeserved.
"What was done was an ugly, brutal and inexcusable crime."
Mr Thwaites' elder sister Sandra said that it was through her brother's talent as a footballer "that his life and the life of the whole family would be changed and shaped forever".
Stockton-born Mr Thwaites was part of the Birmingham City squad that won the 1963 League Cup before he retired from football at the age of 27. He later moved with his family to Blackpool, where he worked as a hospital porter.
The funeral was followed by a private family service.