Hundreds turn out for the funeral of 'murdered' teen Harvey Willgoose, 15, who 'was stabbed in the heart with hunting knife in front of fellow pupils'
A teenager who was killed after he was stabbed in the heart at school was carried to his funeral today in a coffin sporting his favourite football team's colours.Hundreds lined the streets of Sheffield to pay their respects to Harvey Willgoose after he was knifed twice in the chest in front of fellow pupils earlier this month. The 15-year-old was taken to Sheffield Cathedral in South Yorkshire in a red and white coffin - the colours of his beloved Sheffield United FC.The cathedral's choir even agreed to sing the club's favourite chant 'Greasy Chip Butty', during the service, which took place at 2.30pm today.Harvey was stabbed at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield on February 3 before dying in the ambulance on the way to hospital.His distraught family - including mum Caroline, dad Mark, both 51, sister Sophie, 27, and brother Lewis, 25, were seen at the service hugging each other.Around 750 mourners, wearing a mixture of formal wear, Sheffield United football tops and t-shirts with pictures of Harvey's face, went into the service inside the cathedral.The service was also live-streamed on a screen outside the cathedral and around 150 people gathered outside in the rain to pay their respects. Mourners, including Harvey Willgoose's mother Caroline, pictured at his funeral on Friday Harvey Willgoose (pictured) was rushed to hospital with 'serious injuries' after the attack at All Saints Catholic High School. He died shortly after The coffin of Harvey Willgoose is carried to the hearse following his funeral service at Sheffield Cathedral on February 21Harvey's heartbroken family also lit a candle during the service, which was conducted by Reverend Canon Abigail Thompson. A poem written by his sister Sophie was read out. It paid tribute to his love for Sheffield United. It said: 'Your love for the blades grew.'Sneaking through the turnstiles, nobody knew.'The funeral also heard how Caroline remembered Harvey often saying 'Isn't it a lovely day?' when he was younger.The wake is due to take place at Beighton Miners Welfare Club in the Beighton area of the city - where Harvey's mum Caroline, 51, volunteers.She spoke out about the funeral plans just a few days before the event.Caroline, a factory worker, said: 'He's got a Sheffield United coffin and we've got a choir who are going to sing the 'Greasy Chip Butty' football chant.'Harvey's distraught family previously paid tribute to him, describing him as a 'loving and funny' son and brother.They said: 'We are utterly heartbroken at the loss of our beautiful boy, Harvey Goose. Mourners hold a banner at the funeral for teenage school knife attack victim Harvey Willgoose Harvey Willgoose and his mother Caroline pictured together in a post made on social media Mourners hold a banner at the funeral for teenage school knife attack victim Harvey Willgoose Emergency services raced to the All Saints Catholic High School (pictured) courtyard as classrooms were plunged into lockdown The hearse carrying the coffin of Harvey Willgoose arrives at Sheffield Cathedral ahead of his funeral service on February 21'Our lives are devastated and will never be the same again.'We have lost a beloved son, brother, grandson, cousin, nephew and most importantly, a best friend to all.'Harvey will be forever known for being a caring, loving and funny young man.'At this difficult time we ask you to please respect our privacy as we grieve as a family.'A 15-year-old boy, who can't be named due to his age, has been charged with murder, possession of a bladed article and one count of affray.He will appear at Sheffield Crown Court on April 28 and a trial has been provisionally set for June 30.Sheffield Youth Court previously heard how he knife 'went through his (Harvey's) rib and punctured his heart'.District Judge Tim Spruce told the 15-year-old suspect: 'You will be aware that you are charged with offences arising from an incident on Monday the 3rd of February.'There is an allegation that you murdered Harvey Willgoose on that date.'It is early days in this investigation but this allegation involves a knife, a hunting knife, being taken into school and used to stab another pupil in broad daylight resulting in the death of that pupil.'In a heartbreaking statement issued through South Yorkshire Police, Harvey's mother Caroline previously said their lives 'will never be the same again'. A tribute to Harvey Willgoose is seen prior to his funeral on February 21 A crime officer outside All Saints Catholic High School on Granville Road in Sheffield 'We are utterly heartbroken at the loss of our beautiful boy, Harvey Goose,' she added.'Our lives are devastated and will never be the same again. We have lost a beloved son, brother, grandson, cousin, nephew and most importantly, a best friend to all.'Harvey will be forever known for being a caring, loving and funny young man.'Chris Hartley, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS Yorkshire and Humberside, said: 'The Crown Prosecution Service has reviewed a file of evidence from South Yorkshire Police.'We have authorised South Yorkshire Police to charge a 15-year-old with murder in relation to the death of Harvey Willgoose, 15, at All Saints Catholic High School on 3 February. 'He has also been charged with possession of a bladed article and one count of affray.'The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are active and that the youth has a right to a fair trial.Sir Keir Starmer said the 'whole country' will 'mourn with' the teen's family after the devastating loss.The Prime Minister said in a statement: 'The terrible stabbing in Sheffield is one where I think the whole country would want to reach out to the family, the friends, to the school, the entire community, in their grief and mourn with them.'Obviously there will be an investigation, but I think at this point I simply speak for the country, to the individuals affected, to the family in particular, but everybody impacted by this awful situation - a young boy has gone to school and hasn't returned home.'And so my first thoughts as Prime Minister and as a father are with the family.'Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan also paid tribute to the teen on social media.He wrote on X: 'RIP Harvey Willgoose … Can't quite believe what has happened at a Sheffield school.'
