HUNDREDS of mourners packed into a church to say goodbye to a 24-year-old York man who lost his battle against a rare form of cancer.

Family and friends of Wayne Lee Thompson, of Acomb, gathered at St Stephen’s Church, where pop songs were played in between moving tributes.

Conducting the service at the church, also in Acomb, the Reverend Phil Carman said it was a testament to Wayne, his character and his life that so many people had gathered to remember him. Reading a message from Wayne’s friend, Dave, Mr Carman said: “To ‘Best’. Not only did I call you ‘Best’ because you were one of my best friends, but also because you brought out the best in me.

“Now you have gone, it feels like part of me has gone with you. You will always be close in my heart and in my memories forever.” Quoting from a piece written by Wayne’s father, Bill Singleton, Mr Carman said: “Through his illness we were all moved by how he never complained or put his head down – he just got on with it till the end.

“I was very proud of him, and was always very proud of him and will always miss him.” Mr Carman also read out a heartfelt eulogy from Wayne’s half-brother, Brendan Singleton. “If you were part of his life, he would be there and do everything to help you out, from giving people lifts, to putting his treatment on hold to make sure he was at his mate’s funeral,” he said. “He was quite a character – he will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.” The church heard how Wayne, who lived with his mother, Teresa Singleton, in The Reeves, was a “true lover of life”, “infectious to be around”, and that all he wanted was to enjoy life. During the service, which took place yesterday, photographs of Wayne, who loved watching The Simpsons, were projected on to a wall in the church. A floral design of the character Homer Simpson from the television series was mounted on Wayne’s hearse.

Wayne, whose nickname was “Waz”, died in his mother’s arms on December 22. Mrs Singleton said doctors were baffled by how quickly the stomach cancer had spread through her son, who was diagnosed with the disease on October 17.

The former Oaklands School pupil worked for his father’s company, BSPH Demolition, and had been set to take over the firm when Mr Singleton retired.

Wayne’s father said his son went on lots of courses related to the business, and passed them all first time.

“He loved motorbikes and cars and was a very careful driver,” he said. “The thing he loved the best – apart from his mum and dad – was going on holiday, of which he had many.”

* A reporter and photographer from The Press were invited to the funeral by Mr Thompson’s family.