Hundreds of loved ones gathered in Lancashire to take part in a celebration of life for Jay Slater.
The 19-year-old apprentice brick layer was first reported missing two months ago after he vanished while on holiday in Tenerife. A 29-day search party followed until Jay’s body was found last month.
His mum Debbie Duncan, 55, and dad, Warren Slater, 58, returned him to the UK and gave him his final send-off today (August 10) at Accrington Cemetery Chapel in Accrington, Lancashire.
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The cemetery was full-to-the-brim with mourners and the family set a specific set of instructions for guests to follow. Debbie requested that everyone wear blue, as several blue flowers and ribbons adorned Jay’s local area after he went missing.
The family said: "If anyone would like to bring a single rose to place with Jay, they are more than welcome – no bouquets."
Friends and family of the teen released blue balloons into the air following news that his body was found a month later. The gathering will be a "celebration of life,” according to his family.
The ceremony kicked off at 10:30 Saturday morning, with a fundraiser and initial statement released before guests arrived.
Family tributes
A statement was issued ahead of the funeral, with Jay’s parents pouring their hearts out ahead of the sad day. The statement read: “A loving son of Debbie and Warren, a cherished brother of Zak and brother-in-law of Jessica, a treasured grandson of Dawn, June and the late Dougie, a much-loved nephew of Glen and Katie, a dear cousin of Maddie and Tillie and a loyal friend to many. Jay will be very sadly missed by all those who knew him.
"After Jay left Rhyddings High School he went on to become an apprentice bricklayer with the PH Build group, a job he greatly enjoyed... At the young age of five Jay started playing football for Huncoat United FC until the age of 17 and also did a few seasons with the Sunday team at St Joesph’s too. He also loved spending time chilling out with his friends.
"Jay’s love of music and dance started at a very young age. He loved attending music festivals and events across the country and also loved to socialise and meet new people.”
Ahead of the funeral, Debbie asked attendees to wear blue in tribute of Jay. She did not want black due to the funeral being a celebration of life.
Fundraisers
Jay’s family started a fundraiser when their son was officially declared as missing to help with search costs. Ahead of his funeral on Saturday, they released another asking for donations to charity LBT Global in memory of Jay.
The charity aids families who have loved ones that go missing abroad. Jay’s family used the charity’s service and continue to even after his body was discovered.
Their statement reads: "This fundraiser is in memory of Jay Slater, so friends and family can honour his memory with a gift to LBT Global. Jay's family have asked for donations in memory of Jay to LBT Global, the charity that has helped and continues to help, them through the tragic loss of Jay in Tenerife. All donations will go straight to supporting families in similar situations.”
Troll warnings
LBT Global have had to release a statement ahead of Jay’s funeral, asking for attendees to be aware of trolls taking advantage of the sad event.
Some scammers have taken to social media and claim they can offer people private access to live streams of the funeral so they can watch from home. LBT Global chiefs have urged people to avoid, describing the offer as "vile trolling".
Matthew Searle, the charity's Chief Executive, said.: We ask that anyone seeing one of these pages reports it to the platform. Please don’t follow them or send them money. It is so typical of the vile trolling this family have received for them to target something so special as a funeral.”
Order of service
The order of service for Jay’s funeral was released ahead of the funeral. Mourners gathered at 9:30 before Jay's family arrived.
Pictures on the front and back of the service depicted Jay smiling as a teenager. Several statements and obituaries were left to express Jay’s fun and kind personality.
The front page read, “Remembering with love. Jay Dean Slater. Always in our hearts. #forever19.” A statement on the back page read, "If anyone was dancing on the way to the other side, it was him.”
The service
The service began around 10:15, with Accrington Cemetery chapel being filled with family, friends and colleagues of Jay’s. A large screen was set up outside the chapel, meaning people who could not get into the service could watch from outside.
Several people were seen stood in the pouring rain outside the chapel. They were clad in blue ribbons and clothing.
Jay’s coffin arrived at the church on the back of a horse-drawn carriage. The horses were adorned with blue-detailed saddles and feathers. A few cars followed the procession with Jay’s family inside.
Onlookers bowed their head as the procession passed, before it stopped in front of the entrance to the chapel.
Touching tributes
Pallbearers carried Jay’s coffin inside the chapel while the song Forever Young by Alphaville played. Jay’s mother Debbie and his immediate family accompanied them by walking behind.
Debbie, dressed in a blue blazer, wiped away tears during her son’s procession. Touching tributes from friends and family followed once they entered the chapel.
Congregants at the funeral were told that Jay's memory will "continue to live on in all of you" by the celebrant leading proceedings. They then read out letters written by Jay’s close friends which detailed their happy memories with the 19-year-old. One friend wrote, “He was my brother.”
Jay’s work colleagues were among the hundreds that gathered to pay tribute. they dressed smartly in trousers and wore their blue work shirts to the occasion.
Jay was an apprentice bricklayer at PH Group, "a job he greatly enjoyed", his family has said.
Videos were shown of Jay, with one clip showing him laughing and dancing as a teenager in front of a camera. "He worked hard and he played hard,” said a family member. The congregation also heard that Jay attended music festivals "as soon as he was old enough", among them Parklife and the Warehouse Project. Laughter can also be heard emanating from the building.
Manchester Evening News reported that several videos and speeches depicted happy memories of Jay throughout his short life.
Attendees were offered a candle to light as they left the church.
Also at the funeral was Jay's best friend Lucy Law who was one of the last people to ever speak to him before his tragic death.
After attending a festival, he called her the next morning to say he was lost, in need of water and had little battery left on his phone.
And posting a video on her Instagram story from inside the funeral where mourners gathered near the grave, she wrote: “Rest in peace buddy. You'll never be forgotten.”
Jay’s final journey
Onlookers say Jay’s coffin leave the chapel at around 11:20. The coffin itself was blue and adorned with white flowers, with Jay’s name carved into the side.
Family and friends appeared to carry him out of the service and several onlookers were seen clutching blue roses in tribute.
The pallbearers walked Jay down the road from the chapel towards the cemetery. Debbie, Warren, and their son, Zak, 24, linked arms and wiped away tears.
Jay’s procession placed his coffin back into the horse-drawn carriage and made their way towards the cemetery. As a final tribute, onlookers let loose blue smoke outside of the church.
One man could be seen holding a flare from a car window, closely following the procession, as requested by Jay’s family.
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