Family of Folkestone boy killed last month invite community to his funeral
The service starts at 2pm and will be shown live here on KMTV, with screens also put up outside the church for mourners to watch.
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00:00 The death of William Brown has touched the whole community in Folkestone.
00:05 The seven-year-old died last December after he was struck by a vehicle near his home on the Sandgate seafront whilst fetching a football from the road.
00:16 This tragedy could have happened to anyone and I think that's why it's brought people together and shown Will's message because when one suffers in a community, if we can all come together and show support, that is Will's message and that's what he would have done.
00:34 So I know he'd be looking down and he'd be proud if everyone could get round and you never know what the person next to you has gone through.
00:43 William's dad says his seven-year-old had love and forgiveness for everyone.
00:48 Tomorrow he'll be laid to rest at the Church of St Mary and St Ainsworth in Folkestone.
00:54 His parents had to gain special permission from His Majesty the King to allow this.
01:00 On Christmas Day, William's mum Laura travelled four hours to Sandringham where the royal family attended a church service.
01:08 She was carrying a personal letter to King Charles to ask for his help.
01:13 If he's watching us now, which I pray that he is from heaven, he's watching down, he'd say, "Oh wow, everyone clumped together so I could be buried in the place that I loved, in the graveyard that I used to play in. I can't believe everyone's backed me and supported me."
01:30 The service starts at 2pm tomorrow. The family are encouraging everyone from the community to come down.
01:37 So if you're feeling like, "Oh, should we attend or should we not?" You know, we haven't had a formal invite, please ignore them thoughts in your head and just come along.
01:51 The more people we can get there to come together as a community, I think it would say a lot about Folkestone and Hive and I think it would say a lot about the community that we live in.
02:02 William's parents said he would have wanted everyone to be there tomorrow for the funeral and it's for that reason they've invited us to come along tomorrow and live stream the funeral from the church for those who can't make it in person.
02:17 [Music]