Up to 500 mourners attended the memorial service for teenager Jay Slater, “who touched the lives of so many people.”
Family and friends crowded into the chapel of Accrington Crematorium to pay their last respects to the 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, who died while on holiday in Tenerife.
Many others followed the event outside in the drizzle and watched it being broadcast on a specially set up large screen.
At the request of his family, most people wore the colour blue in his memory, including his work colleagues at the PH Build Group, where he was doing his bricklaying apprenticeship, who wore T-shirts with the words “Forever 19” on the front.
Funeral director Sarah Barton led the service and told the congregation: “We know that Jay has touched the lives of so many people and on behalf of the family I would like to thank everyone who has sent them heartfelt messages and cards to help them get through this incredibly difficult and sad time.
“I would also like to thank all those who helped bring Jay back to us safely: my family, my friends, the kind offers of support from the people of Tenerife, the police here at home and all of you who have come here today to show your love and care.”
An autopsy revealed that the teenager died on June 17 from traumatic head injuries consistent with a fall from a height. His death would have been instantaneous.
Before his disappearance, Mr Slater was attending the NRG music festival with two friends. His last known whereabouts were the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island, about 11 hours’ walk from his accommodation.
He had driven to an Airbnb in Masca after a night of drinking, but the two men who were said to have rented the property were later classified as “not relevant” to the case.
Spain’s Guardia Civil said Mr Slater may have fallen in the steep and inaccessible area where he was found.
Jay’s mother Debbie Duncan, father Warren Slater and older brother Zak listened as they shared memories of Jay’s football exploits as a junior at Huncoat United, where he played from the age of six to 17, and his time at West End Primary School and Rhyddings High School.
In a eulogy read at the service, Huncoat United manager Stuart Holt said: “I first met Jay when he was six years old and Debbie took him to his first football training session.
“With his baggy clothes and flowing curls, he already looked the part. Jay was quiet, shy and, as it turned out, a natural at football.
“I can’t remember a single incident in those 10 seasons where he argued with a teammate or an opponent. He just showed up – usually at the last minute because he liked to sleep – and always played with a smile on his face and was just happy when he had the ball at his feet.
“You won’t find a teammate who says a bad word about Jay. Only respect and affection.”
Ms Barton said Jay had made “strong and loyal” friendships during his time at West End Primary and Rhyddings High.
She said: “There are just too many friends to mention them all. You only have to look in and out of here to see how many friends Jay has had, whether on Snapchat, Insta or wherever.
“After graduating from school, Jay secured a one-week trial job offer with PH Build Group over the summer, who then kept him on and converted him into a permanent contract.
“This led to him starting a three-year course at Accrington and Rossendale College, where he would have sat his final exams in July.”
On weekends, “Jay loved to party,” she said, adding, “He worked hard and partied hard. We know he loved music and dancing, and that started at a very young age.”
“Jay has loved going to festivals since he was old enough and had been to quite a few in his life – Parklife, Creamfields, Leeds Festival, the Warehouse Project.”
At the memorial service, video clips of Jay’s “dance moves” and photo tributes were shown.
Mourners were given cards with a photo of the teenager and the words “In loving memory, Jay Dean Slater, always in our hearts, #forever19.”
On the back it said: “If anyone danced on the way to the other side, it was him.”
