THE father and fiancée of a York kidney patient who died only months before he was due to get married have paid powerful tributes to him at his funeral.

York Crematorium was packed yesterday for the funeral of Andy Watson, 30, of Haxby, who always remained positive despite undergoing more than 100 operations in his life, including three kidney transplants.

Liz Ward, to whom he got engaged on Valentine’s Day and was due to marry next year, said she was so lucky to have met him.

“He was the love of my life,” she said in a statement read out by his father Peter, from Wigginton. “We were able to fill a lifetime of memories into such a short time and I am so thankful for each and every one of those memories...

“I’ll find you in my dreams and when I look at the stars, but I’ll miss you every day. Goodbye my love.”

Peter said Andy had been the most “giving” person he had ever known, and he had taught the family so much about life and about themselves.

“Most importantly, Andrew taught me the importance of humour. He always saw the good in people and the positive side to life,” he said. “He made everyone feel so good inside. He had the most beautiful outlook on life, which fascinated me, and I learned from him.”

He said the family had been overjoyed in January when Andy told them he was the happiest he had ever been and he was going to ask Liz to marry him.

“I know Andrew would want us all to remain humorous and positive here, today and forever. Son, your humour, dedication and bravery made you great.”

The service included the song Lucky by Jason Mraz, which was to have been played at the couple’s wedding, and finished with Monty Python’s Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.

The funeral was followed by a wake at the Cottage Inn, in Haxby.