Kentish Express Ashford & District
Hundreds of mourners celebrate life of Ryan, 22
Friends and family pay their tributes at church funeral
Hundreds of people attended a service celebrating the life of Ryan Males, who died after falling from an apartment block in Ashford.
A horse-drawn hearse carried his coffin, topped with white and yellow flowers, to St Mary’s Church on Friday.
Mourners filled the 150 seats in the church, with many more having to stand for the service led by Canon Colin Preece.
Ryan’s grandfather, David Males, read Psalm 36.5 and his cousin Amy Bishop read the poem Until We Meet Again.
Friends Jamie Coleman, Charlie Taylor and several others, gave eulogies, describing Ryan as a loyal friend who had many talents.
Music favoured by Ryan was played throughout the service, including Black Stone by Clark, played by MrTwoNumbers and Last Walk Around Mirror Lake, by Boom Bip, remixed by Boards of Canada.
Hymns The Lord’s My Shepherd and All Things Bright and Beautiful were sung.
After the service, friends and family gathered at the Riverside Inn, in Torrington Road.
Former Norton Knatchbull School student Ryan, 22, died on the morning of Sunday, October 19, after falling from the Panorama building in Park Street.
Flowers and notes were left at the base of the apartment block in the days after his death.
Ryan, who was pursuing a career in IT, had also studied at Highworth Grammar School, before moving to K College in Folkestone to do a BTEC in performing arts.
He had worked at Pizza Hut in Ashford and at the Ashford International Hotel, and was also a talented pianist and keen photographer.
Last week, his foster mother Tracy Roberts, from South Willesborough, described him as a “beautiful and passionate young man”. She said: “Ryan was much loved by his family and many friends.
“He was a kind, loving, hardworking young man. “We miss him every moment and we’ll be forever thankful he became part of our lives and family.
“Our hearts go out to everyone who is sharing in the grief of his sudden loss.”
‘We miss him every moment and we’ll be forever thankful he became part of our lives and family’