Hundreds of mourners today attended the funeral of a tragic 16-year-old boy allegedly murdered at his school in Scotland.
Bailey Gwynne died after he was allegedly attacked at Cults Academy at the end of his lunch break on October 28.
The fifth year pupil was rushed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he died two hours later, despite medic’s efforts to save him.
The teenager lived with his parents Kate Gwynne, 33, and John Henderson and four younger brothers in Kirkton of Maryculter, a small village across the River Dee several miles away from the school.
They gathered with other family and friends to say their final goodbyes to the “gentle” teenager at his funeral which was held at Maryculter Parish Church at 12pm.
More than 300 mourners attended the half hour service at the kirk which is based a short distance along the same street from the family home.
Bailey’s dad John welcomed mourners as they arrived at the church door, shaking hands with Bailey’s school friends and hugging relatives and friends of the family as they stepped inside.
Fellow pupils turned up in their Cults Academy school uniforms with green blazers and dark trousers while other teenagers, and younger children, arrived wearing black suits and ties.
The school’s head teacher Anna Muirhead also attended along with other teachers.
Music played at the Church of Scotland service included the Rolling Stones classic hit Wild Horses, a Paolo Nutini track and Rihanna’s Shine Like a Diamond.
The school chaplain and the minster of the parish church conducted the service with prayers said at the end for Bailey.
Pallbearers, including Bailey’s dad, then carried the coffin from the church to the hearse which led a procession of family members further down the road to the burial site at the cemetery.
Bailey’s death shocked the community where he lived on the outskirts of Aberdeen. The teenager had lived there for several years and played football with other children living in the small village at a park in front of the church.
The pupil was described as being a popular teenager who was known to many other teenagers at his school.
Dozens of bouquets of flowers were laid down outside the school gates along with touching hand-written messages in the days after his death.
The school’s head teacher Anna Muirhead said teachers and pupils were “totally devastated” after he died.
She said: “Pupils and staff are in a state of total shock. The boy involved was a very gentle, caring pupil with a lot of friends.”
Bailey’s family visited the academy the weekend after he died to view all the flowers and messages left for Bailey which were taken on to the school grounds.
In a statement released last week, relatives spoke of their devastation.
They said: “There are no words.
“Bailey is our beloved boy and our heart. Our hearts have gone with him.
“A special son, brother, grandson and friend – he never failed to make us smile (most of the time). He will always be our boy.
“We don’t know what we will do without our junior ‘man about the house’.
“We need time now to look after each other and send our love to all those who care for Bailey.”
They also thanked residents of Aberdeen for all their messages of support.
A short notice printed in The Press and Journal said: “Bailey’s family would like to thank the community for their kindness and support at this time.”
