Mourners packed out an Angus church to say a final farewell to a young man described as “the life and soul of every gathering” – with the minister who led the funeral saying it was one of the biggest he had seen in almost 30 years.
Two weeks after the discovery of Bailey Menmuir’s body near his Arbroath home following a five-day search, the town’s St Andrew’s Church was full to capacity for the service, with hundreds of his young friends in the congregation.
The popular mechanic was particularly well known through playing for town side FC 1320 and coaching youth teams and his disappearance had sparked a major town effort to trace him before the tragic discovery was made.
St Andrews minister the Reverend Martin Fair said he had rarely seen such a large turnout in his 28 years at the church.
“That tells you about what this guy was, so there is much to remember, and much to be thankful for,” said Mr Fair, who is the Church of Scotland Moderator-elect.
The service was also live streamed on the church video link which is used to broadcast its regular Sunday services.
In the opening part of a service filled with warmth and humour as well as sadness, Mr Fair took each letter of Bailey’s name and asked the mourners to remember traits including banter, loyalty and love.
Mr Fair described Bailey, who was born in Forfar but then moved to Arbroath, as “a sociable, likeable lad, fashion conscious, a charmer.”
“He was always fun-loving, the life and soul of any gathering,” he said.
“But he cared for other folk, he cared for others more than his own wellbeing perhaps,” said the minister.
He touched on turmoil the young man, who was also known as Bailey Mearns, had endured during his short life and, in a plea to the packed congregation, told them: “It’s okay not to always be okay.
“There are times when darkness seems your only friend. That is never true, there is always someone there and we need to remind ourselves of that.
“Talk, be together, support one another as a community – and many of you have shown what community really is in these last couple of weeks,” he said.
Mr Fair read a powerful poem from the order of service, written for Bailey around the Forever 21 message which his friends have taken to their heart in the wake of his passing, particularly through a social media hashtag.
A crowdfunder set up following Bailey’s death has raised more than £16,000 and the church collection will be added to that to meet funeral and other costs.
Mr Fair told mourners it would also be used to support organisations helping those struggling with their mental health.
The fund has reached its £10,000 target within hours of being set up.
Bailey’s coffin, bearing a heart-shaped white wreath, was taken from the church for cremation at Parkgrove, near Friockheim to the sound of the Lewis Capaldi song, Someone You Loved, which was also played during the service.
Police Scotland have confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Bailey’s death. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
