Murder victim Jo Yeates laid to rest by family

THE family of murdered landscape architect Jo Yeates attended a “quiet and reflective” funeral service held in the village where she grew up.

The ceremony to commemorate the life of the 25-year-old was held at St Mark’s Church in Ampfield, Hampshire.

The wicker coffin was carried into the church by pallbearers from the funeral directors followed by Miss Yeates’s parents, David and Theresa, who live in the village.

The coffin was adorned with daffodils, small sunflowers and assorted other spring flowers.

The parents were followed by Miss Yeates’ brother Chris, his partner Alla Ritch and her young son.

Behind them were Miss Yeates’s boyfriend Greg Reardon, his mother, with his father and brother Frank at the rear.

Many of the mourners, some of them travelling from the Bristol area, arrived early at the village church.

Earlier rain cleared, leaving the church and its wooded surrounding shrouded in a fine mist as friends and family members arrived.

The service was led by the vicar of Ampfield, the Rev Peter Gilks.

It is understood that the service was “very sombre” as the family felt unable to undertake a “celebration” as Miss Yeates’s life was cut so short. The church was chosen as it has close links to the family and it was where Miss Yeates was christened.

More than 50 floral tributes were placed outside the church.

These included bunches from friends, family members, Miss Yeates’s employer design firm BDP and Avon and Somerset Police.

A note on one read: “Our Dearest, Jo you will be with us always. Gran and Uncle Clive.”

Another read: “Dear Jo, Your vivacious spirit and considerable presence will not be forgotten.

“I will miss your ever cheerful greetings. Until we meet again. Love Uncle Pete xxx”.

After the 30-minute service, the coffin was carried from the church, followed by Mr and Mrs Yeates and about 30 other close family members and friends of the family.

Mrs Yeates was sobbing as they slowly walked to the burial site in the churchyard.

About five minutes later, the remainder of the mourners left the church, some pausing to read the tributes which had been left with the flowers.

Speaking after the funeral, Mr Gilks said it had been a “quiet and reflective” service, attended by about 300 people.

“There was a lot of people here, some who had taken great trouble to come here, and there was a very reverend and prayerful atmosphere,” he said.

Mr Gilks said he had designed the service jointly with the family.

Speaking of the family’s connection to the church, he said: “It is their family church as it is of the whole community.”

Miss Yeates worked as a landscape architect at the Bristol office of BDP, alongside Mr Reardon, 27.

She disappeared on Friday December 17 after going for Christmas drinks with colleagues.

Mr Reardon reported her missing after he returned to Bristol on December 19 following a weekend away visiting family in Sheffield.

The university graduate’s frozen body was found dumped on a verge in Longwood Lane, Failand, North Somerset, on Christmas Day, three miles from her home in Canynge Road, Clifton, Bristol.

Miss Yeates’s next-door neighbour Vincent Tabak, 32, has been charged with her murder.

The Dutch engineer, who works at Buro Happold in Bath, is set to stand trial in October.