Mourners gathered in Merseyside to pay tribute to a Portuguese girl who died in a mass stabbing at a dance workshop in Southport last week. Alice da Silva Aguiar was killed along with Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe as they attended a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on 29 July. Ten others were seriously injured in the attack.
Family and friends of Alice sang hymns, and read tributes in English and in Portuguese, during the memorial service at St Patrick's Church on Tuesday. The nine-year-old's parents, Sérgio and Alexandra, walked into the service clutching a toy and their daughter's ballet shoes. It was a painful image but the congregation was reminded that this was a celebration of her life, a service which is traditional in their home country one week after a loved one has passed away.
At the service led by Fr John Heneghan, Alice's parents thanked the local community for their support while her headteacher at Churchtown Primary read tributes about Alice from her classmates. Jinnie Payne said: "If I could describe her in at least three words it would be amazing, caring and confident. "If you were having a bad day and you needed someone - Alice would be there to help you.
” One speaker, who spoke on behalf of Alice's family, fought back tears as she said: "Alice, you are the most beautiful, strongest girl in the world and I hope you know we love you from the bottom of our hearts. "Keep smiling and dancing with the girls." She read out another message from the family wh.