Weapons expert Kelly laid to rest

The grieving family of Dr David Kelly laid the weapons expert to rest in a moving funeral service.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and Lord Hutton, who is leading the inquiry into the scientist's death, joined Dr Kelly's relatives and friends for the ceremony at St Mary's Church in the Oxfordshire village of Longworth.

His widow Janice, 58, remained composed throughout the 40-minute service, which reflected her husband's Welsh roots and his attachment to the pacifist Baha'i religion.

The coffin, decked with a wreath of white flowers and a blue cushion wrapped in a red ribbon, arrived at the church in a hearse about eight minutes before the start of the service at 2pm.

A lone bell tolled as it was brought up the path to the church, followed by Mrs Kelly, her eldest daughter Sian, 32 and the couple's twin daughters Ellen and Rachel, 30.

The vicar of St Mary's, the Rev Roy Woodhams, said the pallbearers were all family members although they were not "blood relations".

Around 160 mourners attended the service, which opened with the Welsh hymn Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah.

Family friend and former BBC Panorama journalist Tom Mangold, who was the first to arrive at the church, said: "It showed how closely he maintained his Welsh roots. He preferred being called Dai to David."

A poem by Wilfred Howe-Nurse, a Longworth poet who used to live at Dr Kelly's house, Westfield in the village of Southmoor, was then read to the congregation, said Mr Mangold. This was followed by another hymn and a reading from the Bible, Matthew Chapter 5, which included the verse: "How blessed are those of a gentle spirit who shall have the earth for their possession. How blessed are the peacemakers, God shall call them his sons."

The vicar told the mourners: "We are here because of the tragedy that has taken place. We are not here for the media or to make a political statement or to apportion blame."

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