Artist, brother, son - We loved you, Ben (From Bucks Free Press)

Artist, brother, son - We loved you, Ben

9:31am Wednesday 18th August 2004 in News By Sitala Peek

MORE than 300 people attended the funeral of gardener Ben Cargill on Friday.

People in Chesham have been shaken by the death of the popular 24-year-old who was stabbed to death in Lowndes Park on Sunday, August 1 the day before his 25th birthday.

Public support for Ben's family was overwhelming as mourners gathered and listened to touching tributes at the Chilterns Crematorium chapel. They heard a Methodist Christian service given by The Rev Michael Anderson as well as family readings.

Mr Anderson prayed: "Help us to come to terms with our suffering as we find it hard to forgive the one who caused this and save us from the bitterness which only consumes and destroys."

Ben's family chose two hymns to celebrate his lifelong passion for gardening; All Things Bright and Beautiful and Morning Has Broken.

Ben's parents James and Judith Cargill thanked their family for the support they had received.

Mr Anderson read out a message on behalf of Ben's brother Gareth.

He said: "Beano was not only my brother he was my best mate. If I ever had any problems he would sit and listen to me for hours, even if there was no solution he just listened.

"He loves Everton and I love Liverpool so there was always a lot of banter, I love you bro."

This was followed by a message from his dad who spoke about Ben's love of gardening and how he had worked hard to make something of this life.

"When Ben bounced into the world in August, 1979 he weighed 10lbs 6oz and he was the completion of our family.

"Ben was an artist but he has always wanted to be a gardener and our garden is filled with his creative work.

"Ben has had his problems but he always knew he could come to us. He turned his life around and asked to come back with us and Judy said he was welcome."

Mr Cargill added the sheer weight of numbers attending the funeral showed how much people cared for Ben.

He said: "I cannot understand why his life was taken from us, he was loved and the numbers here today testify to that."

After the service, the guests poured into the chapel garden to admire the flowers and cards for the family and gave donations for a memorial fund which has been set up to purchase a bench in Lowndes Park so others can enjoy the garden as much as Ben did.

Robert Browning, 22, of Bellingdon Road, Chesham, has been charged with Ben's murder. He has been remanded in custody and will appear before Reading Crown Court on October 14.