Up to 200 mourners today amassed outside a church to attend a traveller funeral as families paid their respects to a tree surgeon who was crushed to death by heavy machinery in a tragic work accident.
Witnesses described mass drinking, with even children reportedly spotted carrying boxes of Stella Artois, at the funeral of Daniel White, 32, in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire this afternoon.
Bikers revved their enginers while police closed off Churchgate road as a funeral cortege led by Mitsubishis proceeded to St Mary the Virgin Church, where elaborate floral arrangements were laid.
Banners called Mr White, nicknamed ‘Dan Boy’, ‘The Son I Never Had’ as up to 200 attendees paid tribute to the father-of-two, whose partner Victoria called an ‘absolute character’ who ‘lived life at 100mph’.
Up to 200 mourners today amassed outside a church to attend a traveller funeral as families paid their respects to a tree surgeon who was crushed to death by heavy machinery in a tragic work accident
Police closed off Churchgate road as a large funeral cortege led by Mitsubishis proceeded to St Mary the Virgin Church, where elaborate floral arrangements were laid in tribute to Mr White
Daniel White, a tree surgeon, was crushed to death when heavy machinery fell on top of him during work on January 12
Up to 200 attended a mass funeral for Daniel White, who was popular in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire
Police closed off Churchgate road leading up to St Mary the Virgin Church in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire
Scores of people dressed in black and wearing face masks paid tribute while a few carried the coffin into the church
Bikers revved their engines outside St Mary the Virgin Church in Cheshunt today in tribute to Daniel White, 32
Scores of people dressed in black and wearing face masks paid tribute while a few carried the coffin into the church
Floral decorations were laid outside the church today as up to 200 people paid tribute to tree surgeon Daniel White
Mr White, a tree surgeon who had been with his girlfriend Victoria for 13 years and with whom he had two children, was killed while working on private land in Wormley.
A piece of heavy machinery fell on top of him leaving him trapped and ultimately cost him his life, according to Hertfordshire Live.
Friends and family set up a fundraiser to raise money for Victoria and her sons, three-year-old Tommy and six-month-old Teddy. The crowdfunder has already raised nearly £35,000.
Victoria called Mr White ‘an absolute character’ with ‘a heart of gold’ who ‘would leave a positive stamp on every person he met’. She told the newspaper how she was left feeling ‘numb to the core’ after she was told about the tragic work accident on January 12.
‘We’ve never known someone to work as much as he did and love it, but he got up everyday to give his kids everything he could,’ said Victoria and her sister, Rebecca.
‘He was an amazing person, an absolute character and he’d do anything for anyone – a good friend, the best dad, son and partner and he has left such a big hole in our lives.’
Mr White was very popular around Cheshunt and since his death tributes have been flooding in.
Victoria and Rebecca said: ‘We’re lost for words for the support and the messages that have been sent, candles, lights, a hundred bunches of flowers.’
Up to 200 mourners today amassed outside a church to attend a traveller funeral as families paid their respects to a tree surgeon who was crushed to death by heavy machinery in a tragic work accident
Bikers revved their engines down Churchgate in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire as locals paid tribute to Daniel White
Scores of people dressed in black and wearing face masks paid tribute while a few carried the coffin into the church
A banner outside St Mary the Virgin Church in Cheshunt reads: ‘RIP Dan Boy, Simply The Best’
Pictures of Daniel White and his family were put up down Churchgate outside St Mary the Virgin Church in Cheshunt
Scores of people attended a funeral procession for Daniel White, 32, who was killed by heavy machinery
Scores of people dressed in black and wearing face masks paid tribute while a few carried the coffin into the church
Witnesses described mass drinking, with mourners posting videos of bottles of vodka in tribute to Daniel White
Floral decorations were laid outside the church today as up to 200 people paid tribute to tree surgeon Daniel White
Floral decorations were laid outside the church today as up to 200 people paid tribute to tree surgeon Daniel White