Mourners asked to wear purple or horse attire while lining streets for Gracie Spinks' funeral

Gracie Spink’s coffin will be followed by her much-loved horse Paddy during her funeral which will be held at Old Whittington Church on Friday, July 23 at 12pm.

Funeral directors Harold Lilleker and Sons Ltd confirmed that people 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.

Gracie died in a field near Staveley Road in Duckmanton on June 18. She had been stabbed in the neck according to an inquest opening.

Gracie was a keen horserider and well known in the equestrian world.

Dozens of horseriders will form a guard of honour in tribute to Gracie and 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.

Although Harold Lilleker & Sons have confirmed that spaces for riders have now been filled, people are instead encouraged to pay their respects to Gracie by lining the streets as the funeral procession passes through Old Whittington.

There will be a celebration of Gracie’s life at the Cock & Magpie on Church Street North afterwards but the 23-year-old’s final ride in a horse-drawn carriage will leave Harold Lilleker & Sons’ Whittington Moor funeral home at 11am on Friday.

The funeral directors are also inviting the public to sign memory books for Gracie any afternoon until 5pm or all day Thursday and Friday at their Whittington Moor funeral home.

In a post on Facebook, Harold Lilleker & Sons wrote: “We are full for horses to safely attend - Please show support by standing on the pavement without horses by wearing purple or horse attire raising whips as Gracie passes.

“Gracie will leave our Funeral Home on Whittington Moor followed by her horse Paddy at 11am on Friday 23rd July.

“Gracie will arrive at her home and her close friends and family will walk behind and follow on horseback to Church.”

The funeral directors published a map, with sections marked in purple to highlight the areas that should be avoided by members of the public during the funeral procession.

The message continued: “Parking at the Technique Stadium S41 8NZ has been kindly offered by Chesterfield Football Club to help other businesses. (cars must be moved before the end of the working day)

"We thank them for this support.

“The roads will not be closed and temperature is expected to be very high so please do not risk the safety of yourself or your horses.

"Gracie would want everyone to be safe.”

Anyone wishing to send flowers for Gracie should send them to Harold Lilleker & Sons, Whittington Moor Funeral Home, 1 Stand Road, Chesterfield, S41 8SW.

Video as air ambulance scrambled to Derbyshire park

Bee sculpture outside Chesterfield’s Crooked Spire destroyed in fire

Support your Derbyshire Times by becoming a digital subscriber. You will see 70 per cent fewer ads on stories, meaning faster load times and an overall enhanced user experience. Click here to subscribe.