The grieving parents of seven-year-old William Brown Jr, who tragically lost his life in a suspected hit-and-run incident, are determined to spread their son’s message of love and forgiveness as they prepare to livestream his funeral service tomorrow.
William Brown Jr will be laid to rest at The Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe in Folkestone, and special permission for this arrangement was graciously granted by His Majesty the King.
The funeral service is scheduled to commence at 2 pm and will be broadcast live on KentOnline. In addition, large screens will be erected outside the church to allow mourners to participate and witness the proceedings.
Young William’s life was tragically cut short on December 6 when he was struck by a vehicle near his residence on Sandgate Esplanade while retrieving a football from the road.
William Brown Sr, the grieving father, expressed the family’s desire to share the service with as many people as possible, as he believed his son “would have invited everyone to his funeral.” He emphasized that it is essential for them to honour William’s memory and convey his son’s message effectively.
“It’s really important to us that we do Will proud and we get his message across,” Mr Brown Sr remarked. “I feel that with a good send-off, with everyone coming together, he will be looking down on us and be proud.
Despite William’s young age, his family wants to celebrate his legacy of love, togetherness, and forgiveness. They are determined to ensure that William’s values are spread far and wide, even beyond the confines of their local community.
Mr Brown Sr affectionately recalled William’s loving and caring nature. He described how his son possessed the ability to unite people and bring them together with his warm-heartedness. William was known for playing football and ensuring that no one was left out. He had a natural inclination to forgive, forget, and move forward without making a fuss.
The funeral procession, honoring William, will begin near his father’s residence in Sapper Row and will proceed along Sandgate Esplanade, where his mother resides, eventually reaching Folkestone. The ceremony will feature a horse and carriage adorned with the colours of William’s cherished football club, Manchester United.
The family’s journey to secure the burial at the historic graveyard was met with success when King Charles and the Privy Council decided to lift the order that had prevented its use since 1855.
Mr Brown Sr urged the community to come together at the funeral, saying, “Maybe you make new friends at the funeral, or maybe you can reach out to someone. Hug someone and show some love. Maybe you may see a neighbour there, and you can build a new relationship. That’s what Will would want. So please make sure you attend. It’s appreciated.”
A 49-year-old man was arrested in Dymchurch nearly 24 hours after the tragic incident and was questioned by detectives on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving, failing to stop at the scene of a collision, and perverting the course of justice. He remains on bail until March 6 as the investigation continues.
