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Last Updated: Friday, 30 November 2007, 20:09 GMT
Hundreds attend Vicky's funeral
Vicky Hamilton's coffin being driven to Redding Parish Church
Vicky Hamilton's coffin being driven to Redding Parish Church
The funeral of murdered schoolgirl Vicky Hamilton has taken place at Redding Parish Church, near Falkirk.

Reverend Geoffrey Smart, who led the service, said Vicky's life had been cut short by a cruel and evil act.

Following the ceremony mourners made their way to the 15-year-old's final resting place at New Grandsable Cemetery in the town.

Vicky's remains were found earlier this month at a house in Margate, Kent - 16 years after she disappeared.

Peter Tobin, 61, who formerly lived at the property, has been charged with her murder.

Vicky was last seen eating chips at a bus stop in Bathgate, West Lothian in 1991 after visiting her sister.

On Friday hundreds of mourners packed into the small Redding Parish Church, which sits only two streets from where Vicky had lived.

The judicial process will go on and help give some peace to all who mourn Vicky's tragic and distressing death
Reverend Geoffrey Smart

During the service, her father Michael, 57, was seated in the front row of the church.

To his right, across the aisle, sat Vicky's older sister Sharon, 36, who clasped a single red rose throughout. Beside her sat Vicky's twin brother and sister Lee and Lindsay, 23.

Reverend Smart described Vicky as a bright, bubbly articulate girl who was full of fun.

Speaking on behalf of her family, he also thanked all those who had supported them through the long search for her.

'Judicial process'

He told mourners: "We come to remember Vicky as she was, a young girl with her whole life ahead of her, who was taken from us by this terrible act of evil.

"Our first thoughts are of the years growing up through into adulthood which were snatched from Vicky by this cruel callous, evil and depraved act, without any thought for Vicky or her family.

"All those years when hopes of Vicky's safe return amongst us caused such pain, suffering, worry and anxiety to her family and this community, yet we know now that throughout the ordeal of these long years Vicky was not only safely in God's loving care, but also reunited with her granny and also her mum, when she sadly died a couple of years after Vicky.

New Grandsable Cemetery
Vicky Hamilton was laid to rest at New Grandsable Cemetery

"The judicial process will go on and help give some peace to all who mourn Vicky's tragic and distressing death."

The song You Lift Me Up by the band Westlife was played as Vicky's coffin, which featured an arrangement of pink roses and white chrysanthemums, was taken from the church.

On way to the cemetery the funeral cortege made its way past the teenager's former home at Ward Avenue.

She was laid to rest in a family plot following a short graveside service.

Vicky's body was found alongside the remains of missing student Dinah McNicol at the house in Irvine Drive.

VIDEO AND AUDIO NEWS
Funeral cortege arrives at the church



SEE ALSO
In full: Minister's funeral text
30 Nov 07 |  Scotland
Family prepares for Vicky funeral
28 Nov 07 |  Edinburgh, East and Fife

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