Jenni and David Stancombe said their daughter was the "perfect little girl" The parents of Elsie Dot Stancombe said "the light" she brought to their lives "will never diminish". The seven-year-old will be laid to rest today, Friday, August 23. Elsie was one of the three children, along with Alice Da Silva Aguiar and Bebe King, killed in a mass stabbing at The Hart Space in Southport on Monday, July 29.
Eight children and two adults were also injured in the attack. The schoolgirl's family want her funeral, which was held at St John's Church in Birkdale at 10am, to be known as 'Elsie's Special Day.' Her parents, Jenni and David Stancombe, paid tribute to Elsie as part of the order of service.
Titled Elsie Dot by mum and dad, the eulogy was read by Emily Ridgway. Jenni and David spoke about the delight they felt when they were going to become parents for the first time with Elsie. They said Elsie was "far too excited to meet her mummy and daddy" and arrived five weeks early.
The eulogy said: "From the moment she was first placed in your arms, the first time you saw her special name written on the board above the hospital bed, she filled you both with a pride that words simply can’t describe. That first night at home, you both sat there wondering 'what on earth do we do now?', 'how are we responsible for this perfect little baby?', all new parents go through the exact same thought process, but Elsie didn’t pick up that fear, that worry. "She fitted into your lives perfectly, she taught you how to be the very best mummy and daddy and she showed you right from the very start that you were a team and were all in it together.
Jenni fully embraced all that being a new mum was, she and Elsie went to all the baby classes, making new friends along the way, and learning so much more about one another than she ever thought possible." Elsie's parents said their daughter was the "always the child everyone else wanted to play with, her kind and caring nature just welcomed everyone in." Her teachers at Farnborough Road Infants School were also full of praise of the kind-hearted schoolgirl.
Speaking about Elsie and sister Rosie, Emily told the service: “Elsie’s proudest moment came when she found out she was being given the title ‘big sister’. As any of us who are big sisters will know, it’s an incredibly privileged title to have and one that she was so excited for. “She absolutely adored her little sister Rosie, she doted on her, mothered her and loved her like no-one else could.
The three best friends became four best friends and family time together was so, so precious. Elsie and Rosie have grown up with their parents showing them how to truly live, how to embrace everything that life throws at you and to always, always be there for one another.” Emily, speaking to Jenni and David, said: “Your beautiful, perfect little girl made you her mummy and daddy and that can never be taken away.
Elsie was a gift given to you and to her sister and she made your lives immeasurably joyful. “Her story doesn’t end here today, her story will be told every single day by those who love her. Her name, such a special name, will be said every single day.
She will make you smile every day, just as she did when she was by your side. “Elsie absolutely will continue to make a difference to this world because of her pure, kind heart. She always did what made her happy and she would want you to continue her happiness in your hearts.
“The light you brought to our lives will never diminish, your sparkle will always shine. Thank you, Elsie for being exactly who you were made to be.” Mourners lined streets decorated with pink ribbons as the "special day” held to celebrate Elsie took place.
A horse-drawn carriage arrived at St John’s Church in Birkdale, near Southport, on Friday morning for the funeral of Elsie Dot Stancombe. Her family walked behind the carriage in a procession from their home. People wearing bright and pastel colours and florals, after Elsie’s family asked those attending not to wear black, gathered outside the church, where songs including Fleetwood Mac’s Songbird were performed by singer Wendy Chalke as they waited for the cortege to arrive.
Among the mourners were members of the emergency services and Ibrahim Hussein, imam of Southport mosque – which was damaged in disorder the night after Elsie’s death. The family dog, Bobby, was also outside the church to see the procession arrive. Members of Elsie’s cheerleading group, Vortex Cheer, formed a guard of honour as the coffin, topped with a blue cuddly toy, was carried into the church, down a pink carpet and through a balloon arch, with bubbles in the air.
Inside, the church was decorated with pastel-coloured flowers, pink ribbons and a screen with an illustration of a dancer which welcomed those attending to “Elsie’s Special Day”. The Lighthouse Choir performed From Now On, from The Greatest Showman, and Wind Beneath My Wings, which was played on speakers outside the church as people entered..
