Funerals for Derby house fire children
Hundreds of mourners gather for the funerals of the Philpott siblings who died in a house fire in Derby. Their parents have been charged with murder.
Jade Philpott, 10, and brothers John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six and Jayden, five, all died in the fire. Duwayne, 13, died in Birmingham Children’s Hospital two days later.
Their father Mick Philpott, 55, and their mother Mairead, 31, have been charged with murdering all six children at their home in Victory Road in Allenton, Derby on 11 May.
The bodies of the children arrived for a funeral service on six horse-drawn carriages.
The hearse carrying the body of Jade Philpott, 10, led the cortege with a horse with pink feathers.
Five more hearses, each with blue feathers, followed to St Mary’s Catholic Church in Derby town centre.
The full requiem mass began with the priests greeting the coffins outside as the church bells rang out across Derby.
Jade’s coffin had a pink princess on the front while the boys’ coffins each had emblems, including toy soldiers on nine-year-old John’s and the Derby County emblem on Duwayne’s. Each coffin bore the child’s name.
Family members and friends threw flowers at the coffins as they were carried into the church. Well-wishers wept outside as the coffins, which had flowers on top, were taken inside.
Tributes to the six siblings
In the order of mass, Duwayne, pictured wearing his school uniform, was described as being charming and caring. Despite being camera shy, the Derby County fan was also described as a ladies’ man who always had endless queues of girls fancying him.
Jade was described as a beautiful princess who had become a mother hen to her younger brothers. “She would always carry them around on her hip,” the order of service said.
John was described as a “cheeky chappy” who was always lively and ready to pick a fight with all the boys. “He was determined to be the last man standing. He was named Supergrass as he would always worm his way out of getting out of trouble and blame somebody else,” the tribute said.
Jack was described as “a real pretty boy” with bright blue eyes, who loved to spend most of his time on his Nintendo DS and watching Peppa Pig, images of which were pictured on his coffin.
Crazy, clumsy and cheerful Jesse, aged six, liked to show off to everyone and constantly tried to get attention. “He was a loud character in the family and very mischievous: whenever he got into trouble he would storm off like a teenager to his room.”
The youngest of the six, Jayden, was nicknamed “the miracle baby” by his parents after being born early. The five-year-old was described as a bouncy and hyperactive boy, who always wanted to have fights with his older brothers.
“He loved lots of cuddles from family and friends.”