'No one can take away memories' (From Gazette Series)

'No one can take away memories'

THE VILLAGE of Charfield stopped to remember Natalie Dibden at a memorial service last Thursday.

The service was attended by Natalie's father, Steve, mother Sarah and brothers Gavin and Barrie.

Many of Natalie's family, friends, fellow villagers and teachers from her school, The Castle School in Thornbury, also packed into St John's Church to remember the life of the 16-year-old who died last month after falling from an ambulance on the M5.

The rector, the Rev Robert Pestell, described the service as "a sad occasion for Natalie's family and for the community of Charfield".

After an opening hymn and prayer, the theme tune to Natalie's favourite television programme, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, was played.

As three of Natalie's friends paid tribute to her, they recalled how Natalie would never come out with them until Buffy had finished.

The girls all began to cry as they said: "We were very close friends and we will all miss Natalie very much."

Natalie's father then spoke of his daughter's happy outlook on life and the way that the family had been supported.

He said: "We have been overwhelmed by the support that we have received. Cards, letters and emails have come in from as far away as Australia and the USA, some from people we know, some from people we have never met.

"Natalie looked at life through the eyes of a child. She was always smiling. She would not hold a grudge.

"Our daughter, Gavin and Barrie's sister, has given us so much happiness that will live on in our hearts and minds."

Following another of Natalie's favourite songs and a reading, Mr Pestell gave an address.

He said: "It is good to see so many people here supporting Natalie's family and sharing in the grief of this sad and tragic death. This is one of the occasions when a community unites, conscious of the fact that this could happen to anybody."

"Natalie is a treasure and quite clearly she has been treasured by the whole community of Charfield, which she has been a part of all her life.

"No one can take away the memories of Natalie, but it is so much easier to move on if we have hope and faith."

A collection was taken at the end in aid of the Redwings Animal Sanctuary.

A private cremation service, conducted by Mr Pestell and the vicar of Thornbury, the Reverend David Primrose, took place at Westerleigh two days earlier.