Mourners honour justice campaigner

Mrs Williams, one of the loudest voices throughout the campaign for justice following the 1989 football stadium disaster, was remembered at a service in Formby.

She died aged 62 on Thursday April 18 after a long battle with cancer.

Scores of people, many wearing Liverpool scarves, gathered in bright sunshine outside Our Lady of Compassion Church.

The coffin carried a wreath of white flowers embellished with red roses that spelled out “Mum”.

Mrs Williams spent almost half her life campaigning after her 15-year-old son Kevin died in the Hillsborough tragedy.

It was her fight to get his inquest verdict of accidental death overturned that is credited with leading to fresh hearings for all 96 supporters who died.

During the service, Mrs Williams’s brother Danny Gordon, who has pledged to continue his sister’s campaigning, said she had touched the lives of countless people around the world.

He said: “Anne touched many hearts throughout the world and has been an inspiration to many.

“She’ll always be loved and deeply missed by us all.

“We’ll never walk alone. She’ll always be with us.”

Following the ceremony, crowds who had been waiting outside watched in silence as Mrs Williams’s coffin was carried to the hearse.

As the cortege departed for Southport crematorium, hundreds of bystanders broke into applause in a show of gratitude for Merseyside-born Mrs Williams’s lifelong dedication.

Liverpool council, which ordered flags to be lowered to half-mast on the day of Mrs Williams’s death, is also planning a further commemoration today.

Mrs Williams defied doctors’ expectations to attend her last public appearance at the Hillsborough memorial service at Anfield on the Monday before she died.