Hundreds line roads for Sian
Final goodbyes and tributes paid to ‘lovely, bright and bubbly’ teenager
THERE was hardly a dry eye in sight as a much-loved teenager was laid to rest.
On November 30, 17-yearold Sian Reeds died after being diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) – a rare form of cancer – two years ago.
Yesterday, her funeral was held at St Mary’s Church in Fratton, and although only a select few people were allowed inside the church, more than 400 people lined the streets to say their final goodbyes.
Sian spent her days living life to the full, and completed a bucket list of incredible things before she died, including meeting singer Ed Sheeran and doing a charity skydive.
Those who knew her reminisced about a fun-loving girl who always put a smile on other people’s faces.
Amy Harding, a teaching assistant at Portsmouth Academy, knew Sian for the entire time she was at the school, watching her grow from a girl to a young adult.
She said: ‘ Sian was certainly a joker – but she was just such a lovely, bright and bubbly girl.
‘She loved dance and was so passionate about PE in general. I was with her right through her time at the school so got to see her grow up. ‘What happened is so tragic. She was a beautiful, happy girl and would have loved to see everyone here today.’
Even after her diagnosis, Sian refused to let her illness drag her down , continuing to take part and excel in gymnastics competitions and achieving three grade 5s in her GCSE exams despite missing 90 per cent of her classes.
After the service, the procession headed to Kingston Cemetery, with Sian in a horse-drawn carriage.
Mourners celebrated Sian’s life with a splash of purple in their outfits – from purple scarves and shoes to purple face masks and flowers.
School friends Lily Shelley, Macy Hay and Brooke Nelson were all outside to pay their respects.
Brooke, 17, said: ‘Sian brightened up every room that she walked into, she was so much fun.
‘Everyone is really going to miss her.’
Lily, also 17, said: ‘I was in most of her classes – she got into scrapes from time to time but had a heart of gold.’
Macy, 16, added: She was always pushing her friends to be better people.
‘We all absolutely adored her.’