attended his to the sound of drum and bass. As many as 500 mourners wearing the 19-year-old’s favourite colour blue crammed into the chapel at Accrington Cemetery. after attending a music festival on holiday in Tenerife in June.
His body was found a month later in remote wilderness after authorities failed to find his body in extensive searches. Mourners, including some wearing t-shirts emblazoned with “Forever 19”, stood in drizzle outside to watch the proceedings, which were broadcast on a specially erected big screen outside. As the teenager’s blue coffin arrived by horse-drawn carriage outside the chapel, horns beeped and blue flares were lit on Burnley Road as passing drivers paid their respects.
There were hugs for Mr Slater’s family as tears flowed outside the chapel, while a version of “Forever Young” played inside. The service heard the apprentice bricklayer, who grew up in nearby Oswaldtwistle, was the life of the party who liked a good time. “Whenever you were round him, you’d just be buzzing and smiling.
There’d be no bad vibes,” one friend recalled. Another remembered how Mr Slater “used to light up any room no matter where he was”, saying: “Keep partying hard up there. I will do you proud, my mate.
” Laughter erupted inside the chapel as videos of Mr Slater dancing were shown. The service heard how the teenager “worked hard and played hard”, attending music festivals “as soon as he was old enough”. Sarah Barton, funeral direc.