Celebration of 'a little princess'

Almost a thousand mourners attended a memorial service for murdered eight-year-old Sarah Payne on Saturday.

They remembered a "sensitive, loving child" whose life had ended prematurely when she was killed last month after being abducted from a field at East Preston.

But instead of grieving, her parents, Michael and Sara, declared the service at Guildford Cathedral should be a celebration of a young life lived to the full.

Det Supt Peter Kennet, leading the hunt for Sarah's killer, and West Worthing MP Peter Bottomley were among those present on a warm, sunny afternoon.

At exactly 2pm the family entered the cathedral and took their seats to the solemn strains of organ music while the congregation stood in silence.

Mrs Payne, wearing a black summer dress under a black jacket, hugged her younger daughter Charlotte, six, as friends and family gave a series of emotional readings.

Sarah's favourite hymns, All Things Bright and Beautiful, Lord of the Dance and Morning Has Broken, were sung by the congregation, who filled the cathedral.

Throughout the 40-minute service a giant photograph of her innocent young face gazed down from the altar across the marble aisle.

Before reading a short poem her uncle, Keith Payne, said: "Our Sarah was a remarkably caring, loving child.

"She had such a passion for life. Just her presence brought such joy and happiness."

After a sermon by the sub dean, Canon Margaret Palmer, Sarah's teacher, Jonathan Goode, from Bell Farm School, Hersham, Surrey, remembered a pupil who loved school and was always willing to help others.

He said: "She was a happy little girl, always smiling and chirpy. Full of determination with a strong spirit, just like the rest of her family.

"Sarah had a personality that was full of love and generosity. Many people have recalled how Sarah would bring things to school that she had made for her friends and teachers".

Family friend Jenny Allen clearly felt the strain as she delivered a short address.

Her voice cracking with emotion, she said: "While we cry a million tears for the beautiful little girl who painted rainbow colours into the lives of all who knew her, we should remember that to keep Sarah Payne's memory alive, we must never forget how to laugh."

Another family friend, Fiona Crook, also remembered Sarah, her bridesmaid, as a "little princess".

She added: "She was a very happy, kind, sensitive, loving child who came from a very close family.

"You could not find four closer brothers and sisters than Lee, Luke, Sarah and Charlotte".

The Paynes, including Lee, 13, and Luke, 11, stayed serenely calm throughout, but they were grieving for a child whose naked body was discovered at the side of the A29 near Pulborough.

It followed a 16-day search involving hundreds of police and members of the public after she disappeared while playing in fields near her grandparents' Terry and Lesley Payne's home at East Preston, near Littlehampton, on July 1.

The Bishop of Dorking, the Rt Rev Ian Brackley, himself once parish priest at East Preston with Kingston, asked the congregation to follow the family's courageous example.

He said: "There is a great sense of outrage at the appalling murder of a young child, a natural feeling of revulsion and disgust at the manner of her death.

"The innocence of childhood play was violated."

He spoke of "a great wave of compassionate support" from the public.

"It has helped Sara and Michael to realise there is a great deal of goodness in the human race and the community at large when so often we only hear about the dark and evil side of human nature."

He expressed the family's deep gratitude to Sussex Police, especially the family liaison officers who stayed with them throughout the long search, for their support.

Many police working on the case have described the 16-day search as the hardest, most harrowing period of their lives.

After a final prayer the Paynes, led by the gathered clergy, left the cathedral, walking out into the warm sunshine .

They embraced family and friends and then walked slowly to the cathedral green where they released 12 doves from a white wicker basket surrounded by flowers.

Among the well-wishers who left wreaths were the armed services, businesses, families and even inmates of the B-wing at Highpoint Prison, Suffolk.

A message on one anonymously-sent bouquet read: "You were too young to learn of such evil. You are in our heads 365 days a year."

After the doves were released, one-by-one members of the congregation queued to wish the Paynes well and hug them.

Many of the mourners left in tears of sadness tinged with admiration for Sarah's parents.

Mr Payne, dressed in a charcoal-grey suit and black tie, said: "I can't think of words to say. It was fantastic and a lovely turnout."

The family, for so long in the public eye, then left to continue their mourning in private, knowing that millions of people across the country were praying for them.

One such person was Gina Perriman, who travelled to Guildford from Rudgwick, near Horsham.

She said: "I live close to where the little girl was found and wanted to come here today to show I care and how much people across the country care.

"I have a young grandchild and realise what the pain would be like should something have happened to him.

"It was a wonderful service and a fitting tribute to Sarah and her family. It is good to see so many people here taking their time to pay their respects.

"It shows how caring and thoughtful people in England can be."