Up to 400 mourners attended the funeral of Carl Watson from Bransholme, following his death from cancer at the age of 22. Emma Wright reports.IT STARTED with galloping horses and throughout was peppered with laughter and happy memories.
Carl Watson was never a person to do the expected and was always bright and bubbly, something his funeral yesterday more than honoured.
It is estimated up to 400 people turned out to say their goodbyes to the 22-year-old, making it one of the largest services seen at the chapel in Chanterlands Crematorium in the past few years.
As the funeral procession headed into the crematorium grounds, his sister Nicki Stork ran ahead of the white Hull FC-clad horses, clutching a picture of her brother, and followed by an entourage of sports cars – nods to Carl's passion for rugby and cars.
Just as Carl had wanted, the cortege was fast-paced, as he always remarked that funerals were "too slow" and the horses galloped up the pathway, rather than walked.
The humanist service was also full of uplifting moments, and civil celebrant Alastair Devine told mourners not to be afraid to laugh and smile.
"A fantastic, lovely person has been lost," he said in the service, which saw people standing in the aisles and at the back in the entranceway.
"I am sure Carl wouldn't want you to grieve in hurt and pain, but to grieve with the joy he has given, he received and shared with you all.
"Don't forget one very very important thing – it's OK to smile when you remember Carl today.
"Be grateful that Carl was part of all your lives."
Carl was just 22 when he died from Hodgkin's Lymphoma earlier this month.
He was told in 2011 that his condition was incurable and he only had months to live.
But Carl was determined to prove otherwise and fought the cancer battle for another two years.
During this time, the Bransholme resident was heavily involved in promoting the services of the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at Castle Hill Hospital, where he was treated, and helped raise thousands for the charity.
Before his diagnosis, Carl was an avid rugby player and two rugby ball balloons were placed at the front of the chapel for his service.
Alistair said: "He loved rugby, but this wasn't always the case.
"He started playing at the age of six and didn't like it.
"His mum Debbie told me they wanted to send him to rugby to toughen up.
"His try-scoring definitely improved when he learned he would be getting £1 for every try he scored.
"He certainly enjoyed the social aspect of rugby playing and it certainly helped when it came to pulling the girls."
Carl was known by everyone as someone who loved to laugh, even smiling through his countless visits to hospital for treatment.
He insisted he did not need appointments as he was a VIP and had all the doctors and nurses laughing along with him during his stays.
"He loved to laugh and he always had a lovely smile on his face," said Alastair.
"He loved his DVDs and would always rewind it to the funny bit and watch it over and over again.
"His sisters would say 'it wasn't that funny' but Carl thought it was."
His humour could also be quite dark, and he once gave his mum a scare. After his father passed away from lung and bowel cancer a few years ago, Carl phoned his mother using his dad's mobile phone.
"It gave his mother a fright," said Alastair.
Although Carl was a bubbly young man, he also liked his own space and never wanted to talk about his cancer, especially when doctors told him it was terminal.
Instead, he lived each day as it came and told people not to treat him any differently.
"He decided very early on that he wanted to live one day at a time," said Alastair.
"His family meant the world to Carl.
"He'd often complain about his sister's music but he loved them and his extended family so much.
"He also loved Barney the dog.
"But Carl being Carl, he loved it when he blew his nose and Barney would lick it.
"He would be killing himself laughing."
Songs played for Carl's service were selected for their special meaning to his family.
The congregation of mourners walked into the chapel as Daniel Bedingfield's If You're Not The One was playing, the song Carl listened to in the car home and in his bedroom when he was given his diagnosis.
The Guns 'N' Roses track November Rain was played during the service, as it was the song that reminded his loved ones of when he would bounce young nephew CJ on his knee.
M People's Just For You was played especially for Carl's mum Debbie, as he would often sing it her, and mourners walked out to the poignantly named Kings of Leon song The End.
Civil celebrant Alastair said: "Even though his life was much much shorter than it should have been, Carl definitely enjoyed his life and he packed so much in.
"He lived life on the edge and lived one day at a time.
"He was determined to go when he decided and even after being given between 24 and 48 hours, he lived another ten weeks.
"Try to remember Carl with a smile. He was such a big-hearted person.
"He was a much-loved son, brother, uncle and inspirational friend to all of you gathered here.
"You all have treasured memories, and through that, Carl will always be with you all."
Carl Watson trophy for Hull College studentsA TROPHY named after Carl will now be given out to students at Hull College.
His former tutor Jane Quinn spoke to civil celebrant Alastair Devine and in his service said how special Carl was to the college.
He said: "Jane was suffering from some form of illness and had anxiety and found it difficult to leave the house.
"Even though his days were so precious to him, Carl was always thinking of others. Carl was the main factor in helping her to recover."
The trophy will be awarded annually to students who have coped through bad times.