Remembering a short life that touched so many

HUNDREDS celebrated the life of Oakley Waterman at the Vale Church yesterday. The six-year-old son of former professional footballer Dave died on Wednesday after a brave battle against cancer.

Oakley's coffin bore the crest of his favourite football team, Chelsea, and several people wore a colourful football strip that he designed.

The service started at 10am with Dave, Oakley's uncle Lee and grandfathers Graham Waterman and John Le Noury carrying the coffin.

A smiling image of Oakley was projected throughout the service on to a screen at the front of the church.

One of his favourite stories in the last few weeks of his life, Waterbugs and Dragonflies, was read by the Rev. Kevin Northover at the beginning of the service.

He was assisted during the ceremony by the Rev. Andrew Rimmer, who met Dave and the family through being Portsmouth FC's chaplain.

'Nothing can describe the immense feeling of sadness and grief we're all feeling. We can see today that hundreds have been touched by Oakley's life, his courage and bravery,' he said.

A DVD displaying images of the six-year-old's life was shown and the coffin was carried out to the strains of A Song For Oakley, written by his uncle, Bobby.

At the end of the service, Mr Le Noury released a white dove that circled the church before flying off.

The mourners, who included several professional footballers, later gathered at Les Rocquettes Hotel.

'He was just such a special little boy and it's a special family really,' said Guernsey-born Oxford goalkeeper Chris Tardif.

'He will be an inspiration for the rest of my life. Everyone he met he touched in different ways.'

A foundation has been set up in Oakley's name to buy, upgrade and maintain a caravan at the Church Farm Holiday Park in Pagham, Chichester.

He visited the site for respite and as a treat through UK children's cancer charity Clic Sargent and enjoyed it so much that he wanted a caravan of his own.

Now that caravan will be there for others to enjoy in the future.

'I just hope his name now lives on through the charity ' I know we'll be doing as much as we can for that,' said Mr Tardif.

The goalkeeper added that one special memory he had was Oakley's beaming response to being given a set of gloves with the Guernsey flag and his name on, in the same style that Mr Tardif wears.

West Bromwich Albion defender Darren Moore met Dave when he was at Portsmouth.

'We struck up a friendship and relationship beyond football and remained close pals even though our careers have gone in different ways,' he said.

'Today was the least we could do. We wanted to be here for Dave and Lorraine, just to show my support, the love and respect for the family.'

Portsmouth defender Linvoy Primus said he had been friends with Dave ever since they first met at the club and the families remained close.

'Oakley was cheeky ' definitely knew what he wanted. When I first met him, he was shy, but as he grew up, a lot of confidence came into his life ' it was such a privilege to know him,' he said.

Mr Le Noury thanked everybody who had donated money to the trust and been there for the family.

'Oakley's special, a one-off. That's probably why he's got such a big name for a little man,' he said.

'In such a short life, he's shown us such a lot.'

Graham Waterman said the support from the Channel Islands and the UK had been fantastic.

'People can't find the right words, it's not in the English vocabulary to describe this,' he added.

'He's reached out to everybody. At six years old he's just touched everybody. There's a maturity that came out of him far beyond his years. He never complained. He battled through and was such a brave little man.'

Mr Northover said it was a privilege to be part of the farewell to Oakley.

'And a privilege to be part of his life, especially in the last few weeks to see how God has touched his life and is still working through Lorraine and Dave who have had so much strength given to them by so many people who knew him and those who didn't.'

*'For more information about the trust or to donate or raise money, islanders can contact John Waterman Jr at the Oakley Waterman Caravan Foundation, Jardin des Reves, La Ruette des Corneilles, Cobo, Castel, GY5 7PP, on 255629 or 07781 155629 or by email: john.waterman@amalgamatedfm.com.