Laura Bagshaw A PRECIOUS daughter whose kind and loving character made her so popular with the people she met... Just one of the heartfelt tributes paid as more than 120 friends and family said their final goodbyes to young Gorles-ton mother Clare Secker.

Laura Bagshaw

A PRECIOUS daughter whose kind and loving character made her so popular with the people she met... Just one of the heartfelt tributes paid as more than 120 friends and family said their final goodbyes to young Gorles-ton mother Clare Secker.

Clare, 19, died of bronchial pneumonia in the last days of 2008.

Former schoolfriends and teachers were among the mour-ners at her funeral at Gorleston Crematorium on Tuesday.

With only standing room left in the chapel, Clare's flower-laden coffin was carried in. Walking behind were her close family, including mum Janice and dad Michael, clutching each other's arms.

As the silence was broken with the sound of Westlife's You Raise Me Up, one of Clare's favourite songs, several mourners broke down in tears. A framed photo-graph of Clare proudly cradling her baby son Tyler was placed in front of her coffin.

During the service, mourners heard that Clare, described by her family as beautiful, kind and loving, had been looking forward to moving into a new flat and celebrating her son's birthday - Tyler turned one year old yesterday.

Among the mourners were Sheila Russell and David Peppiatt, former staff members of Stradbroke Primary School, Gorleston, where Clare had been a pupil.

Paying tribute to a popular and intelligent pupil, Mr Peppiatt recalled fondly how Clare could not pronounce his surname, instead calling him “Mr P”.

Mourners heard anecdotes from Clare's schooldays - she had also attended Oriel High School - and a later encounter the teachers had with her when she worked at Piccolo restaurant in Gorleston.

Mrs Russell told the congregation they would not forget her sense of humour and determination.

“Clare was a wonderful pupil who enjoyed learning,” she said.

Fighting back tears, she added: “Tyler is Clare's legacy, and I know if he grows up to be anything like his mum he will be a beautiful person.”

Tributes written by Clare's family, including her parents, brothers Ben, 24, Bill, 21, and sister Faye, 18, were read out at the service. She was described as not only a sister but a best friend. Saying goodbye to her was the hardest thing the family had done.

After the Pink Floyd song, Wish You Were Here, was played, prayers were said in Clare's memory as the curtains surrounding her coffin were closed and mourners left the chapel to another of her favourite songs, My Girl, by Westlife.

Clare died three days after her family had sought advice from an out-of-hours medical service after she had been feeling unwell for several days, suffering a high temperature and not eating.

Her family was advised that she should take paracetamol and drink plenty of fluids, but in the early hours of December 29 her condition deteriorated. She died later at the James Paget University Hospital.

An investigation has been launched by NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney into the action taken by Ipswich-based out-of-hours medical service Take Care Now.

A spokesman for NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney said: “We are continuing our inquiry into Clare's death alongside colleagues at Take Care Now. It would be inappropriate for us to comment further until that inquiry is complete.”