Hundreds of mourners gathered for the joint funeral of two of the three teenagers killed by a drunk driver as they walked to a friend’s birthday party.
Harry Rice, 17, plus 16-year-olds Josh McGuinness and George Wilkinson died when speeding motorist Jaynesh Chudasama careered into them on January 26.
The trio were laid to rest today following a joint funeral service, where friends and relatives braved the adverse weather conditions.
Ian Rice (right), father of Harry Rice, outside St Mary’s Church in Uxbridge, at the joint funeral for his son and Josh McGuinness
Hundreds of mourners gathered for the joint funeral of two of the three teenagers killed by a drunk driver as they walked to a friend’s birthday party
The three friends, including Harry Rice were laid to rest today following a funeral
Friends, family and other mourners, many of them former classmates, braved heavy snow as a procession passed through the village to St Mary’s Church for the service
A joint funeral service was held this afternoon for semi-professional footballer Harry (left) and labourer Josh (right) in their home village of Harefield, north west London
A joint funeral service was held this afternoon for semi-professional footballer Harry and labourer Josh in their home village of Harefield, north west London.
Friends, family and other mourners, many of them former classmates, braved heavy snow as a procession passed through the village to St Mary’s Church for the service.
Following the service, Josh’s sister Melissa Blackwell, 27, said: ‘People say the same thing about both – they brought so much light to their lives because they were so funny.
‘They were a pair of jokers. That’s what people are missing most – the laughter they brought to our family.
‘You never expect something like this to happen so when it does, I have had hundreds of messages from friends, even people who didn’t know them.
‘It’s affected the whole community, the support is just incredible really.
‘It definitely is overwhelming and it just shows, they weren’t typical 16-year-old boys, they were so lovely, so funny and friendly.
‘They would never hurt anybody and they didn’t deserve what happened to them.
A mourner stood beside the horse drawn carriage bringing Harry Rice’s body to the church
Family members of the boys told of their grief following their tragic death last month
The three friends had a joint funeral service at St Mary’s Church in Uxbridge, west London
She added: ‘A comment my mum made in there was that talking to his friends just makes you feel like he’s here.
‘His friends and him are a lot of jokers and the stuff they come out with you think that’s something Josh would have said.’
She added: ‘They don’t expect their kids wouldn’t come home that night.
Harry’s dad, Ian Rice, said the support at the funeral has ‘pulled him through’.
He said: ‘It’s overwhelming, it’s pulled me through actually.
‘I was a bit down this morning, not feeling particularly well does not help.
‘When I see all the friends for both boys – thanks to them all for coming.
Chudasama, 28, admitted three counts of causing death by dangerous driving when he appeared in custody at the Old Bailey on Monday. Pictured (right) is George Wilkinson
The procession was led by two horse-drawn carriages carrying the boys, with each carriage decorated with floral tributes of the boys’ names along with the words ‘brother’, ‘son’ and ‘uncle’
‘It’s the hardest thing you could every do – it’s bad enough when you lose someone in your family.
‘When you lose your own child, it was horrific.’
The procession was led by two horse-drawn carriages carrying the boys, with each carriage decorated with floral tributes of the boys’ names along with the words ‘brother’, ‘son’ and ‘uncle’.
Orders of service were handed out which included a collage with dozens of photos celebrating their lives.
They also included a photo of George, an apprentice electrician, whose funeral was held separately.
Mourners walked into the church as ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’, by The Hollies, played, before prayers and hymns were also heard.
Friends also spoke at the service to pay tribute to the boys.
A JustGiving page set up to cover the cost of the boys’ funeral raised more than £6,000, massively exceeding the £300 target.
Hundreds of mourners gathered for the joint funeral of two of the three teenagers killed by a drunk driver as they walked to a friend’s birthday party
A tribute to Harry was written by Josh’s family as the teenagers were laid to rest today
Money has also been raised for a memorial bench in tribute to the three lads.
Chudasama, 28, admitted three counts of causing death by dangerous driving when he appeared in custody at the Old Bailey on Monday.
He also had traces of cannabis in his system when he hit the boys while driving his Audi at 71mph in a 60mph zone.
Chudasama was remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing on March 9.
The coffins of teenagers Harry Rice, 17 and Josh McGuiness, 16, arrive by horse drawn carriages at St Mary’s Church
Mourners follow as the coffins of teenagers Harry Rice, 17 and Josh McGuiness, 16, are carried into St Mary’s Church