Goodbye to Ben (From Barry And District News)

Goodbye to Ben

TWO SPECIAL videos were taken of Ben Greening's funeral last week - so his mum can watch the moment her only son was buried when she comes out of hospital.

To give Sarah Greening the chance to witness the emotional ceremony, her brother Simon Mortimer-Brown recorded inside St Mary's Church.

And a HTV cameraman took footage of the crowds filing into the building. Both videos will be ready for her to view when she is strong enough.

Sarah is still recovering from horrendous head injuries inflicted on her by her husband Richard, just hours before he took his own life on Saturday, September 27.

But the 32-year-old is showing remarkable signs of improvement, just a week after her son's funeral.

She has been moved out of Intensive Care and on to the high dependency ward at the University Hospital of Wales.

Although her family say she is still not fully conscious, she is gaining strength daily.

And when she does come round, she is desperately trying to communicate with people.

Her father, Steve Mortimer-Brown, said: "Her mother Janet is by her side all day, every day.

Sarah is waking up and winking at her mum, she's waving her hands around and smiling.

She still can't talk, but just this week she was trying to communicate with the doctors.

When she couldn't talk, it was clear she was getting frustrated, which is a really good sign."

Sarah could not be there in person to see the hundreds of schoolchildren, teachers and other mourners fill St Mary's Church to pay their respects to Ben Greening.

But the scene last Thursday will make her very proud.

The service was due to begin at 2pm, but by 1pm the church was already full.

Hundreds of people attended the ceremony, and listened to words of comfort from Father John Hughes.

The funeral of popular Barry teenager Ben Greening was one of the biggest the town has ever seen.

Held in St Mary's Church on Holton Road last Thursday, hundreds of St Cyres and Barry Comprehensive school children turned up to pay their last respects to the 15-year old, who died when he was struck by a train on Saturday September 20.

Although the service was not due to start until 2pm, by 1pm every seat was taken. Father John Hughes, who was officiating the service, opened the choir pews and still people were standing three rows deep around the edge.

As the family walked into the church, it was clear that grief was overwhelming them. His sisters Abby, 15, half-sister Amy, 18, Hayley, 13 and little Jessica, who is only five years old, took the chance to grieve.

The three older girls were wearing bright red tops and Jessica was dressed in her football strip, in remembrance of their brother's love of Arsenal Football Club.

In a touching service, Father Hughes paid tribute to a warm young man with a good sense of humour and many friends.

Among his messages to the congregation, he said: "It's all right to cry."

When the funeral procession left the church and headed towards Barry Cemetery, many mourners followed.

As Ben's body was lowered into the grave, friends and relatives laid flowers and football shirts on top of the coffin.

Ben's grandfather Steve Mortimer-Brown, known as 'Grancha' to his grandchildren, said: "We were expecting a lot of people to come to the funeral, but we had no idea so many would.

It was wonderful to see everyone there, and it's taking us a while to go through the cards collected at the service.

"The girls coped very well. They hadn't cried properly before the funeral, and I think it was good for them to cry.

Afterwards, they felt better. The last hurdle they have is their father's funeral, which is being held today in Cadoxton Methodist Church.

Then they can concentrate on Sarah's recovery and getting her home."

Ben's mum, Sarah, is still recovering in hospital after her husband Richard attacked her with a hammer before committing suicide, so Steve and his wife Karen have been busy trying to sort out her affairs.

But the couple are keen to let everyone know how grateful they are for the support they have been shown.

Karen said: "There are two family friends, Kim and Donna, who have been a huge help. They have been there for the kids every step of the way, and we want to say thank you."

Steve added: "I also wanted to say thank you to my ex-wife Janet, who is Sarah's mum.

She sits by Sarah all day, every day.

Without her help, we wouldn't be able to help the children get on with their lives and sort Sarah's business out as well."