DROITWICH gathered at the Lido Park bandstand on Sunday (July 16) for an emotional and poignant service to remember and celebrate the life of Alfie Steele.
People gathered at the bandstand while listening to ‘Love Me Do’ which was one of the Beatles fan Alfie’s favourite songs.
Alfie’s loved ones and friends gathered as well as other people who felt it was important to come together as a community.
Rev Laura Handy, who led the service, began with some opening remarks before inviting people to remember ‘what a brave, kind and funny boy’ Alfie was.
Picture by Samantha Setchell. s
The congregation then paused for a moment of reflection, during which people held up blue hearts and teddy bears while ‘Free as a Bird’ by the Beatles played in the background.
After a short time of prayer, people were invited to write down memories of Alfie and messages of support for his siblings and wider family.
Picture by Samantha Setchell. s
And the evening ended with people adding their thumbprints to and signing a canvas to show Alfie’s loved ones the community was thinking of them.
Alfie’s family were unable to be there, but the tributes, messages and memories will be shared with them when the time is right over the coming years.
Rev Handy said: “Those who had the initial idea worked hard to think through how the service went and it was a privilege to lead the tributes through and to help people to come together in this way.
“It was an emotional time and particularly difficult for those who knew Alfie most, but felt like an important and honouring moment shared together.
“I hope that it helped those who came and in due course will help those most affected to know that the wider community cares and is thinking of them.”
Alfie was just nine years old when he was found lifeless in the bath of his home on Vashon Drive on February 18, 2021.
His mother Carla Scott and her partner Dirk Powell were jailed over his killing last month.
