HUNDREDS of mourners gathered inside and outside York Minster today as the city said its final farewell to Royal Marine David Hart.

Relatives, friends and comrades of the 23-year-old serviceman, of 40 Commando, were joined by military veterans, city leaders and members of the public for a service of thanksgiving, three weeks after he was killed in an explosion while on foot patrol in Sangin in Helmand, Afghanistan.

Outside the church and in Goodramgate, Deangate and Minster Yard, about 400 people gathered in the streets as the cortege arrived.

Grief was etched on the faces of David’s parents Dilys and Chris Hart, of Upper Poppleton, his sister Sarah Hart and girlfriend Sarah Horsley as pallbearers carried the coffin, draped in the Union Flag, through the South Door of the Minster.

Family, close friends and dignitaries packed the Quire and stood as The Reverend Canon Glyn Webster led prayers ahead of the first hymn, ‘O God, Our Help In Ages Past’.

One of the most moving tributes came from Reverend Ian Wheatley, who said: “Sometimes you meet people who forget you, sometimes you forget meeting people and sometimes you meet people you cannot forget – people like Dave.

“He was a friend to everyone and an enemy to no one. If the world was full of Daves it would be a better place.”

Marine John Worthey read a poem by Ellen Brenneman, ‘His Journey’s Just Begun’, which he said summed up his thoughts.

He read: “Think of him as living in the hearts of those he touched, for nothing loved is ever lost and he was loved so much.”

After the second hymn, ‘Dear Lord And Father Of All Mankind’, Reverend Andrew Foster described David’s life before he joined the Royal Marines.

He said David was a huge football fan who loved socialising. He had studied horticulture at Askham Bryan College and went on to become a landscaper gardener for two years before announcing he wanted to become a marine.

In October 2009, straight after completing his training, he went to Afghanistan with Commando 40.

Rev Foster said: “Even as a little boy David was brave; jumping in the deep end of the pool before he could swim and deciding to ride his sister’s bike, which was too big for him, falling off and jumping back on it for another go.

“He was a loving son and brother whose heart was at home; a footballer and a friend who was consistently the player’s player.

“His life showed great promise and he will live on in all of our hearts.”

As the coffin was carried out at the end of the hour-long service, a spontaneous burst of applause could be heard from inside the Minster, while the organ played God Save The Queen.

The church’s bells chimed Abide With Me and the hearse travelled through a phalanx of lowered flags.