The people of Perth and beyond paid touching final tributes to the late Lily Douglas as she was laid to rest in a private service on Valentine’s Day.
Dedicated mum Jane invited residents of the Fair City, who had been “so kind and generous” to the 14-year-old cancer fighter, to wish her farewell on her final journey through the Fair City streets yesterday.
The hearse left Uist Place at 1.20pm and went on to Gowans Avenue where her school pals and fellow pupils at St John’s Academy waved goodbye.
She then headed along Tay Street and Caledonian Road, before reaching Wellshill Cemetery on Jeanfield Road.
Posting on social media yesterday, mum Jane said: “Today I take you to your final resting place my beautiful baby girl.
“I miss you more than you will ever know and I don’t know how to live my life without you but I promise to keep your memory alive and make your short beautiful life help others. I was the luckiest mum in the world to have you and I will always remember that even on my hardest days.
“You made me a better person and taught me how to be brave, fearless and kind.
“My heart will break forever but I know I will meet you again angel. Keep dancing and smiling in heaven baby girl, until we meet again.”
The service followed a public demonstration of love held on Friday for the brave teen, who tragically died at her Perth home on January 23, graced by a special performance from star musician Lewis Capaldi.
St Matthew’s Church was filled with invited guests who had come to see and hear tributes to the young teen who had won so many hearts.
Fourteen-year-old Lily, who discovered she had cancer aged nine, continued to enter - and win - dance competitions despite her illness and treatment sapping her strength.
She spent her time recently following others in the world of entertainment and made special friends with dance choreographer Dame Arlene Phillips, the dancers from Strictly Come Dancing and members of Scottish Ballet. But perhaps the supporter and pal she was most proud of was singer and songwriter Lewis Capaldi.
Lily, who had Ewing Sarcoma - a rare type of cancer that affects bones or the tissue around bones, met him backstage when he played at TNSMT in Glasgow in 2019. Mum Jane said it was one of her most exciting moments
.Lewis quietly came to attend Lily’s send-off in the Perth church, St Matthew’s on Tay Street.
He came to the front of the church and sang his most famous song, Someone You Loved.
So many people had followed the St John’s Academy pupil through her almost five year health battle that when it came to arranging the day of celebration on February 11, screens were put up outside the church and Tay Street was closed to cars so the event could reach everyone who came to pay their respects.
Thousands also watched from home as the service was live-streamed from 2.30pm, with fireworks lighting up the skies above Perth at 6.30pm.
Rev Fiona Bullock welcomed guests to what she called “a sad day but one of celebration”, with Lily “now at peace”.
She added: “We celebrate that she lived her short life to full and we hope that everything planned today allows you to celebrate her life.
Dame Arlene Phillips spoke at the service. She said: “I knew from the moment I met her, this little tiny skinny girl that had come to meet me at Pineapple Dance Centre. I was going to watch her dance and it was only later that day I learned that she had just been diagnosed with cancer. This little girl shone a light in a way that I had never seen before, or even expected.”
Songs from Lily’s favourite musical Wicked were sang before the guests left the church to bagpipes.
Rev Bullock touchingly concluded: “Lily has danced her way to heaven where she has become the sassiest star.Let her light shine through us all.”
