FAMILY and friends said a final farewell to a young Hampshire man who lost his life with his friend in a car crash.

Tom Emery was described as having a "heart of gold" as hundreds gathered for his funeral.

Tearful friends and family packed into a church to say an emotional farewell to the 24-year-old who was killed in a car crash.

It came just 24 hours after devastated loved-ones had attended a separate funeral for his friend and fellow crash victim Dean Paling, 23, at Wessex Crematorium.

The two men were travelling in the same car when they were killed in a crash near Boarhunt earlier this month.

The sun was shining yesterday as mourners gathered at St James Church in West End to say goodbye to Tom, a former Eastleigh College student.

 

Daily Echo:

His coffin was carried in to the sound of Coldplay’s Yellow and carried a floral tribute in the shape of a car.

Friends and family members, welcomed to the service by Rev Thomas Wharton, took it in turns to pay tribute to the talented vehicle technician.

One pal described Tom, from Moorgreen Road, West End, as having a “heart of gold” who was “always willing to help others”.

They said he was an “affectionate”, “easy going” and “reliable” person who “never let you down” and who loved “cars, animals and food”.

Images from Tom’s short life were then beamed on to a projector screen while Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain played out.

Some wept and hugged their partners as heartbroken family members followed the coffin out of the church with Michael Jackson’s You Are Not Alone playing quietly in the background.

Mourners then moved on to South Stoneham Cemetery for the burial before a wake took place at Macdonald Botley Park Hotel in Boorley Green.

It took place just a day after hundreds gathered in memory of Dean Paling.

Cars of all shapes and sizes parked up at Hedge End Retail Park on Thursday before a huge convoy set off for a service at Wessex Crematorium.

Among those to pay tribute was racing driver Dean Stoneman, with whom Dean won a major power boating championship in 2012.

As reported, Tom was driving the car along Southwick Road towards Boarhunt when the crash happened at around 11pm on December 2.

Dean, a former Wildern School student from Holmesland Drive, Botley, was in the passenger seat.

Emergency services were quickly on the scene but were unable to save them.
Inquests into their deaths have been opened and adjourned with the cause of death identified as a fractured skull for Dean and multiple injuries for Tom.

The inquest will resume in early 2014.

Police are continuing an investigation and are appealing for any witnesses to contact Sgt Shaun Hopkins, quoting Operation Adelite, on 101.