Family pays tribute as Jade is laid to rest (From Thisisdorset)

Family pays tribute as Jade is laid to rest

8:00am Saturday 23rd March 2013 in Latest

THE devastated family of Jade Clark came together yesterday to say goodbye to their “baby girl”.

Friends and colleagues of young firefighter Jade, who was killed in a crash on the A31 on February 24, also joined the scores of people – dressed in pink and black – at Bournemouth Crematorium to say goodbye.

The former Ringwood School pupil was killed in a collision near her Ringwood home.

Members of Jade’s family consoled each other as her pale pink coffin arrived at the crematorium.

Jade, who went to Poulner School, Ringwood School and Bournemouth and Poole College, was a much-loved member of the Ringwood Young Firefighters Association and a Hampshire Fire and Rescue truck led the funeral procession to the crematorium.

Ten of her fellow cadets formed a guard of honour as the fire engine and hearse arrived.

Four instructors from the Young Fire Fighters Association carried her coffin into the service, followed by Jade’s mother Sharon Clark, father Billy Herald, step-dad Daniel Clark and her young siblings.

Mourners entered the service to “Jolene” by Dolly Parton before being welcomed by Janice Smith, Civil Funeral Celebrant.

She read a poem that Jade's mum, Sharon, had written.

It read: “To our baby girl, Jade.

“If tears could build a stairway and memories make a lane, your mum and Danny Dad would walk the path to heaven to bring you back again. God bless.”

Janice Smith spoke of Jade’s love for swimming and karate and how much she enjoyed a surprise holiday to Butlin’s after Christmas.

Tributes were read from Jade’s sister, her nan, Ringwood School, Bournemouth and Poole College and the salon where she worked.

Watch manager Kevin Morrison read a tribute on behalf of Ringwood Young Firefighters.

He said: “Jade had two favourite places – first was at home with her family and the second was Ringwood Fire Station with her fellow young firefighters.

“Jade was a family girl who loved her family a lot and would always talk about them.”

He paid tribute to her “brilliant sense of humour” and said she was “bubbly and outgoing”, describing her as a “team player”.

Watch manager Morrison said Jade got involved with everything, from car washes to presentation evenings and raising money for charity and was “totally committed”.

“Jade will be sorely missed by colleagues and friends. We will always miss Jade and her brightly coloured hair, but she will be always with us in spirit,” he added.

Mourners, some standing outside of the packed crematorium, reflected while Autumn Leaves by Ed Sheeran was played before the committal and closing words, which were: “Jade, you were a wonderful daughter, granddaughter and sister. The best that we could ask for, always there for us all.

“We will miss you so much. God bless, baby Jade.”

Outside the service, 15-year-old Bethany Luther, carrying pink flowers for Jade, said: “I remember going to Monkey World with her and she was sitting in the car singing and dancing to the radio. She was so bubbly and lively.”

And Christina Luther, the best friend of Jade’s mum, said: “Jade used to stay with us. She was a lovely girl. We just hope for closure for the family.”

College friend Holly Kirk-Hope, added: “I’ve known her for five years, she was bubbly, lively, you could never really get her to shut up.”