A VILLAGE paid its respects yesterday to a “loving and exuberant” 13-year-old boy who drowned in a flooded quarry.

Hundreds gathered at St John’s Church, Whittle-le-Woods, for the funeral of Dylan Ramsay, who died while swimming at Whittle Hill Quarry lake on July 3.

At the request of Dylan’s parents, Becky and John, guests wore an item of pink and others a ‘beanie hat’, in tribute to their son’s trademark look and favourite colour.

Many schoolfriends gathered, but it was an occasion for all generations in the tight-knit village as the congregation packed into the church.

Traffic came to a standstill on Preston Road as Dylan’s white coffin was carried the short distance from his Church Hill home.

Tributes were read by his Uncle Joe, who said Dylan had “packed more love and fun in to his 13 years as most do in a lifetime”.

Stephen Rimmer, Dylan’s PE teacher at Parklands High School, then addressed the congregation.

He said: “To know Dylan was to know someone at their best.

“He had a confidence and exuberance about him that rubbed off on everyone, including myself.

“He was very athletic for a boy of his years and unnervingly strong, always badgering the staff to let him do backflips and stunts in the gym.

“With the amount of athletically talented friends he had, to be Sports Day champion for two years was no mean feat.

“To take away the chance for him to develop further is truly a tragedy.”

Dylan also leaves brothers Stephen and Joshua and little sister Annie.

As mourners left the church they were invited by the family to sign his coffin, which was placed on the church lawns.

In a poignant coincidence, the Parklands school bus passed by at this point and shouts of “love you Dylan” could be heard from the upper deck, reducing many to tears.