Remembering Tommy

Huge crowds came to Honor Oak Crematorium today to say farewell to Tommy Blackmore, aged 20, who died five weeks ago in tragic circumstances near to Tower Bridge.

On the way we stopped at the Blue - Jon from Albins laid a flower in front of the Bermondsey Lion - and at Millwall FC where the club presented the family with a Millwall shirt emblazoned '1. Blackmore'.

Tommy was a devoted Millwall fan.

In the service there were wonderful tributes from family and friends to the 'cheeky chappie' from Rotherhithe, to the loyal friend and devoted son and brother, to the kind hearted fundraiser who had raised over £36,000 for a cancer charity.

There was laughter, as well as tears, as the congregation recalled Tommy's love of fashion, his eyebrows ('the most perfect in the world'), his love of Pizza, Nandos and Ketchup.

In my sermon I said 'it shouldn't be like this'. Tommy's life shouldn't have ended so early or in the way that it did. The very number of people who had come today was a testimony to the kind of man he was.

And in the midst of our grief, we had Jesus's words of hope, pointing to the reality of eternal life: 'in my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so would Ihave told you that I go to prepare a place for you.'

May God bring his comfort and peace to all who mourn the loss of Tommy.

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