Worsthorne gathers to pay final respects to Hector Eccles

Hector Eccles, 16, died when the Polaris Ranger Farmbike he was riding came off the carriageway on Extwistle Road, Worsthorne over the Easter weekend.

His funeral procession began off Red Lees Road, where a line of tractors followed his coffin as it made its way into the village. The coffin itself was carried on the lead tractor with the procession also including a further 50 trucks and farm vehicles.

People had waited patiently to pay their final respects to the teenager, who was described as a ‘beautiful, kind and lovely boy’.

The procession made its way down Red Lees Road and then onto Salterford Lane and into Worsthorne village square and the St John the Evangelist Church, where hundreds of people had gathered. 

As the coffin arrived at the gates to the church, the stream of tractors made their way past the square.

The coffin was then lowered off the tractor and pallbearers walked through a guard of honour at the entrance.

The service was beamed live to people in the square and hundreds, who could not enter the church due to space, watched the service where tributes were paid to a ‘young life lost before its time’.

Earlier people had been asked to donate to St John the Evangelist Church or the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute (RABI) and there was also an opportunity to donate at the church and at the wake. 

In their tribute, following Hector’s death, the family said: “We would like to thank everyone for the kind words and sympathy over the last few days.

“This is our Hector on his farm with his animals, where he loved to spend his time.

“Always happiest: on the farm, at Gisburn Auction, or with his friends and colleagues in Pendle Young Farmers.

“Hector will always be in our hearts and minds, we will always remember our beautiful, kind and lovely boy.”