Memorial service for tragic Steven Atkinson

Nov 14 2009 by Tom Mullen, The Journal

MORE tributes have poured in for a schoolboy who beat cancer and a number of disabilities, only to be killed in a road accident.

Steven Atkinson, 12, of Sunderland, was knocked down and killed while riding his bike in the city last month.

The youngster had recently triumphed over leukaemia and fought his way through disabilities including a cleft palate, jaw defect, curvature of the spine, deafness in one ear and an eye which could not move.

His funeral heard how, despite these trials, Steven had learned to embrace life with a maturity and understanding well beyond his years.

And yesterday, scores of his fellow pupils at Sandhill View School gathered for a special memorial service to pay final respects to their departed friend.

Letters and pictures had been made by the children in memory of Steven as part of counselling offered to them after the tragedy.

These were projected onto a screen at yesterday afternoon’s ceremony, amid moving tributes from friends and former teachers.

Richard Bain, headmaster of Sandhill View, said: “A lot of the pupils have been very upset, but I think the funeral and our service has helped them a little to move on.

“It’s been quite heartwarming that Steven had such a nice impact on people, and I’ve found his mother’s account of him as a young child particularly moving.

“It’s made us feel very proud of Steven and everything he has achieved. I feel extremely proud of the pupils, who have been very thoughtful and reflective throughout a very tough time.”

The service included readings from pupils and a speech from another significant teacher in Steven’s life – Margarita Acklam, headteacher of Broadway Junior School.

Steven’s mother Violet also spoke of her thanks for everybody’s good wishes following Steven’s death.

She said: “It’s been very moving. There has been a huge collection and we’re going to donate this to leukaemia research.

“The funeral was packed and the crematorium was packed afterwards as well.”

More than 200 people attended the schoolboy’s funeral last Friday at Sunderland Minster.

The Rev Canon Stephen Taylor led yesterday’s memorial service after the usual school day had finished.

Speaking at Steven’s funeral, which he also presided over, the Rev Cannon said: “He had a glimpse of the life after this life.

“He didn’t fear death, he was at peace. He understood what few adults fail to grasp – a complete peace which released him to live this life without fear and to live his life to the full.”

Steven was an avid Sunderland AFC supporter and scores arrived at his funeral wearing the club’s distinctive black and white-striped shirts.

His former headteacher Mrs Acklam told how one of the proudest moments of his life was standing as a team mascot at a Sunderland v Manchester United match in 2007.

Steven is understood to have collided with a black Mini at around 8.45pm on Saturday October 17, near the junction of Glenleigh Drive, on the A183 Chester Road. A man was arrested and has been bailed in connection with the incident.