Gypsy's colourful send-off - Yorkshire

From the Sun

Tragic Kathleen Morrison was robbed of her life by cancer at just 33.

And more than 600 people - many wearing the shade - turned out to pay their respects by taking part in a flamboyant procession complete with a horse-drawn hearse and a cortege of pink limos and Hummers.

Recent years have seen the colour adopted by people working to raise the awareness of breast cancer.

Kathleen's striking coffin in white gloss, metal and mirrored panels, was carried into church by six pall bearers dressed in pink shirts and black ties.

Floral tributes were to be found everywhere at the service at St Francis of Assisi's Catholic Church in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorks., yesterday.

Touching tribute ... mourners sport pink in memory of Kathleen's cancer battle
Mourners sport pink in memory of Kathleen's cancer battle
Ross Parry

The theme was carried on in the five flatbed trucks that followed the hearse — after two pink limos and a pink stretch Humvee — which were covered with elaborate floral arrangements.

While many were in the shapes of hearts and stars, there were also tributes in the shape of cameras, handbags and at least one in the shape of a caravan, the last picked out in silver and pink.

The pink theme was carried on in the clothing of many of the mourners, some wearing pink T-shirts with Kathleen's picture on them and the legend RIP and others with pink shoes, tops or flowers in their hair.

Mum-of-three Kathleen, who worked for the Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange (GATE), was considered an ambassador for the travelling community.

Growing up in a large travelling community she had lived in different places in and around Leeds, West Yorks., before returning to live in her caravan at her mum's home at Cottingley Springs when she became ill.

She died at home last Tuesday, surrounded by her family, six months after receiving her diagnosis with cancer which spread throughout her body.

Father Bob Owens, leading the service, said: "Kathleen hated unfairness and injustice and a lot of her work was to give young people the power to do different, exciting and interesting things and to have the same chances as children and young people in other communities."