Farewell to ‘bright and caring’ Jenna

More than 300 mourners have gathered to bid a tearful farewell to a teenage girl killed in a car crash.
Jenna Barbours coffin was painted with pictures of the animals she adored. Picture: Neil HannaJenna Barbours coffin was painted with pictures of the animals she adored. Picture: Neil Hanna
Jenna Barbours coffin was painted with pictures of the animals she adored. Picture: Neil Hanna

Jenna Barbour, 18, from Dunbar, East Lothian, died with two friends when their car careered into a wall near Tyninghame on 25 November.

Mourners heard Jenna was “thoughtful” and compassionate”, but her life “was tragically cut far too short”.

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Every seat at Belhaven Parish Church in Dunbar was filled, as family and friends attended a humanist service for the keen horserider and charity worker.

Her friends wept as celebrant Ivan Middleton paid tribute to Jenna, who was carried into the church in a sky-blue coffin covered with pictures of horses.

Music played at the service included the theme to 1960s TV show The White Horses and (Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding.

Mr Middleton said: “Jenna lived a bright and caring life. It was, of course, a life which was tragically cut far too short.

“She was a fun-loving but very thoughtful and compassionate girl. She lived her life caring for other people and usually put her friends and family before herself.”

He added: “She was very much into riding and inspired and helped disabled people to learn how to ride. The whole thing is just incredibly sad.”

After the service, Susan Law, of Muirfield Riding Therapy, a centre where Jenna worked as a volunteer, said: “She was a very valued member of our team of volunteers, who provided riding therapy for people with disabilities. She was a very caring person and she had built a lot of relationships with teenagers who sometimes found it difficult to communicate with others.

“Jenna always found a way to get through to them and build a relationship. She was very well-liked by the whole team and will be greatly missed.”

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Jenna was killed with friends Josh James Stewart, 16, and David Armstrong, 15, when their Peugeot 206 left the road and crashed into a wall.

A 16-year-old youth has been arrested in connection with the incident.

In a family statement released before the funeral, Jenna’s mother Sandra, father Drew and brother Gregor said: “We have been left completely devastated by the death of our beloved Jenna, who was a dearly loved daughter, sister and friend.

“Having only recently left school, Jenna had her whole life in front of her and had been saving for a trip to New Zealand, which was her dream holiday.

“Jenna had been working extremely hard to save for the trip and, when she wasn’t busy working at her part-time jobs, she loved horse-riding and was very accomplished at the sport.

“As well as regularly spending time practising, Jenna also volunteered with the Riding for the Disabled charity. We were all immensely proud of Jenna and everything she achieved in her life. She was always a delight to be around and the family each have very fond memories of our holidays together.

“To lose someone as special as Jenna has left a huge hole in our hearts and we ask that our family be left alone to grieve at this incredibly difficult time.”

After the service, Jenna was buried at Binning Memorial Wood, a “peaceful and idyllic” natural burial ground.

A service for David Armstrong will take place today, and Josh James Stewart’s funeral will be held on Monday. Flags at East Lothian Council buildings are to fly at half mast for five days.

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