Gracie Spinks' funeral: Hundreds turn out to pay their respects
The funeral was held at 12 noon at St Bartholomew's Church in Old Whittington.
Gracie’s horse Paddy followed her coffin, which was in a white horse-drawn carriage.
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Hide AdHundreds of mourners lined the streets in Old Whittington as her funeral procession made its way through the village in Gracie’s honour.
Dozens of horse riders formed a guard of honour and listened to the service outside the church to pay tribute to the 23-year-old who was a keen rider and horse lover.
Watch the community pay their respects to Gracie, by keeping up with the latest updates below.
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Gracie Spinks’ funeral: Chesterfield says goodbye to beloved 23-year-old with mourners lining the streets and horses forming guard of honour
Key Events
- Gracie Spinks has been laid to rest today, her funeral service started at 12 noon at St Bartholomew’s Church in Old Whittington
- Hundreds of mourners wore purple and horse riding attire in memory of the 23-year-old equestrian
- Gracie’s horse Paddy followed her coffin which was led by a horse-drawn white carriage
- Temporary road closures were in place as funeral procession made its way to the church
Viewers flood live video with tributes to Gracie
Viewers watching the Derbyshire Times’ live stream of Gracie’s funeral procession passing through Old Whittington have flooded the comments with purple hearts in memory of the horse lover.
Mourners have turned out in purple or horse riding attire, as requested by Harold Lilleker & Sons who have organised her funeral.
Eleni Mappoura wrote: “Rest in paradise Angel”.
Pat Lowe added: “Such a wonderful send off R.I.P Gracie xx”.
Kelly Chirms commented: “Fly high beautiful girl”.
Watch as mourners pay their respects to Gracie as she makes her final journey through Old Whittington
Horse riders form guard of honour in memory of 23-year-old equestrian
Dozens of horse riders have shown up for Gracie this morning, forming a guard of honour in her memory.
Her horse Paddy was following the horse-drawn carriage containing Gracie’s coffin.
Horses don purple feathers as they lead Gracie’s coffin in a white carriage
Gracie’s funeral procession has just passed through Sheffield Road in Old Whittington, taking the 23-year-old for her final journey before the service starts at 12 noon.
Her coffin was led a horse-drawn carriage with the horses - which she loved - donning purple flowers in her memory.
Watch the funeral procession LIVE via Derbyshire Times Facebook Page
Our reporter Michael Broomhead is live streaming from Sheffield Road as mourners and horse riders line the street waiting to honour Gracie’s funeral procession.
Join the stream here:
The scene on Sheffield Road as mourners wait for Gracie’s funeral procession to pass through
Lots of people have gathered to pay their respects to the 23-year-old.
Hundreds of people already lining Sheffield Road to pay their respects to Gracie
Mourners have shown up in huge numbers on Sheffield Road to say goodbye to Gracie as she makes her final journey through Old Whittington.
Lots of people are also wearing purple or are in horse riding attire as requested by Harold Lilleker & Sons.
Mourners wear purple
Hundreds of people are already lining Sheffield Road to pay their respects to Gracie, with many wearing purple or horse riding attire as requested.
Funeral director says thoughts are with Gracie’s family and friends ahead of service
Drew Lilleker, director at Harold Lilleker and Sons who have organised Gracie’s funeral today, said: “Today our thoughts are very much with Gracie’s family and friends.
“We’d also like to thank people and businesses in the local community for their support.
“Thanks also go to Reverend Jo Morris, Rector of Whittington.”
Gracie’s funeral procession to be live streamed from 11am
Mourners can watch the funeral procession as it passes through Old Whittington, virtually via a live stream on Facebook.
This will follow some parts of the cortège’s journey to the St Bartholomew’s Church for the service at noon.
You can join the stream when it goes live later this morning, https://www.facebook.com/events/2976626612549601/?ref=newsfeed
Friends pay tribute to the 23-year-old who was “nicest person you could ever meet"
People who knew Gracie have shared fond memories about what she was like as a person, as she is laid to rest later today.
Sharon Layton and her daughter Katie both knew the 23-year-old.
Katie said: “She was the nicest person you could ever meet. She lit up the room with her smile.”
Sharon added: “Gracie was such a lovely girl and she’ll never be forgotten.”
People visit funeral home to leave flowers and sign memory books in memory of Gracie
Residents have visited Gracie’s funeral directors home in Old Whittington to sign memory books and leave flowers ahead of her final journey today.
Chesterfield club turns purple to honour Gracie Spinks
Staff at a Chesterfield club have draped purple cloth in the venue’s upstairs windows to pay tribute to ‘former colleague’ Gracie Spinks.
Read the full story here.
Temporary road closures in place to allow mourners to line streets and Gracie’s funeral procession to pass through
Derbyshire police have confirmed that there will be temporary road closures in place while the funeral procession passes through.
The roads will be reopened once it is clear, as the closures are not permanent.
The route will go from Stand Road to St. Bartholomew’s Church and traffic will be stopped for the procession to pass through at the following points:
• Junction of Stand Road/Sheffield Road (B6057)
• Whittington Moor roundabout
• Junction of Whittington Hill/Newbridge Lane (B6052)
• Junction of Station Lane/High Street (B6052)
A celebration of Gracie’s life: How today will unfold
Gracie’s final ride will leave Harold Lilleker & Sons’ Whittington Moor funeral home at 10.45am this morning (Friday, July 23) in a horse-drawn carriage.
Her funeral will be held at St Bartholomew’s Church at noon and there will be a celebration of her life at the Cock & Magpie on Church Street North in Old Whittington afterwards.
Community comes together to pay respects to Gracie as she is laid to rest
Chesterfield FC have allowed their stadium car park along to be used along with Stand Road for those wishing to attend to pay their respects.
Funeral directors Harold Lilleker & Sons have confirmed that spaces for horse riders to form the guard of honour have now been filled.
But people are instead encouraged to pay their respects to Gracie by lining the streets as the funeral procession passes through Old Whittington.
Gracie’s final journey: Chesterfield residents to line the streets to say goodbye to the 23-year-old
Gracie Spinks’ funeral is being held at St Bartholomew’s Church in Old Whittington at 12 noon today (Friday, July 23).
Funeral directors Harold Lilleker and Sons Ltd confirmed that mourners wishing to line the streets to say goodbye to the 23-year-old have been asked to wear purple or horse attire in memory of her.
Her own horse Paddy will follow her coffin.