Tears flow at funeral of Steven Atkinson

Nov 7 2009 The Journal

TEARS flowed as friends and family yesterday paid their last respects to a schoolboy who beat cancer only to be killed in a road accident.

Scores of mourners packed Sunderland Minster for the funeral of Steven Atkinson, 12, who was knocked down and killed while riding his bike in the city last month.

The youngster had beaten leukaemia and overcome a number of serious disabilities to find a love of life. At yesterday’s service his coffin was painted red and white in tribute to his beloved Sunderland football club, and dozens of mourners arrived wearing the team’s colours.

An organ played the familiar football anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone before hymns and tributes from Steven’s former teachers.

Margarita Acklam, headteacher of Broadway Junior School, said: “Each day he arrived with the same white, bright smile, vivacious personality and infectious sense of humour. Against all odds, he battled on.” Mrs Acklam remembered how in 2007 Steven fulfilled his dream of becoming a team mascot, when Sunderland played Manchester United on Boxing Day of that year.

She said: “The smile on his face lit up the whole stadium. It is a memory to be cherished.”

Richard Bain, headteacher of Sandhill View School, said “He always had a funny story to tell and most of all he liked to talk about football and how Sunderland had played that weekend.”

The congregation was moved to tears and laughter alike as the Rev Canon Stephen Taylor told a touching boyhood adventure story from Steven’s past.