Daily Express

Thank you for giving my Caroline a perfect farewell, says mother

- By

Sarah Lumley

THE family of tragic TV star Caroline Flack have broken their silence to thank the 200 friends and relatives who made her funeral “perfect”.

Caroline’s mum Christine, 69, said: “There were lots of memories, smiles but mostly tears as we all remembered Carrie and the joy she had brought to all of our lives.

“All the family would like to say thank you so much to all Carrie’s friends who travelled from all over the world to be there and appreciate­d why we wanted to bring her back home to Norfolk.

“Her friends from school days, college days and present day also gathered to exchange stories and pay tributes to my beautiful girl.”

Christine went on to thank Allcock Family funeral directors, who arranged the two-hour service at Greenacres at Colney, near Norwich, last Tuesday. “They made everything perfect from decorating the hall with flowers, directing the service from start to finish and simply taking care of us.”

She also thanked the media for staying away, as the family had requested.

Meanwhile Caroline’s boyfriend Lewis Burton, 27, posted an emotional message on Instagram to mark a month since the former Love Island presenter took her life.

Sharing a photo of them laughing together, he wrote: “I love and miss you so much, I never thought that one day I will never be able to see or speak to you again. I wake up and think you’re going to be laying next to me or you’re going to call me in a minute.

“It just doesn’t seem real. I wish I could give you a kiss and a cuddle and say everything is going to be OK. I am so grateful I met you, I just want to make you proud.”

Last month the first inquest hearing at Poplar Coroner’s Court, east London, was told that Caroline, 40, was found hanging in her flat in Stoke Newington by a friend.The pal took her down then ran into the street and flagged down a

Memories...Caroline and her mum Christine and, inset, photo of the star with Lewis which he posted yesterday

passing police car at 1.11am on Saturday, February 15. But Caroline was pronounced dead at the scene. The inquest resumes on August 5. Meanwhile her mum shared more details of the funeral, which was attended by Caroline’s co-stars from Strictly – which she won in 2014 – Fash FC, I’m A Celebrity, Xtra Factor, Love Island and Celebrity Bake Off.

Caroline’s family, who include her parents, twin sister, another sister and a brother, wore T-shirts made for the Samaritan’s charity by her close friend and TV personalit­y Keith Lemon.

The West End’s Lucie Jones sang She Used To Be Mine from Waitress while Ciara performed a song she’d written for Caroline called The Sulking Room.

The wake was held in a pub.

●●Need help? Phone the Samaritans for free on 116 123.

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