The family and friends of 15-year-old Ryan Henry packed out St Aldhelm’s Catholic Church in Malmesbury today.

The football mad pupil of St Augustine’s Catholic College in Trowbridge, where Ryan also played rugby, died on April 2 after a seven-year battle with Leukaemia.

The hour and a half long service was attended by his parents Malcolm and Kyla and two brothers, who live in Hullavington.

Patrick Henry read a passage from the Bible and Daniel Henry movingly performed the 1969 Hollies track He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother, which reduced much of the congregation to tears.

Filling the church were a large number of young people, almost all dressed in black, including many of Ryan’s school friends.

Father George O’Sullivan spoke of Ryan’s short but full life, his love of sport and his relationship with girlfriend Laura.

In a eulogy read by a family friend Ryan’s family thanked Laura ‘from the bottom of their hearts’ for making Ryan’s last few months the happiest of his life.

Recalling his own memories of Ryan as an alter boy Father O’Sullivan, from Cork, spoke of their keen discussions about rugby and his offer to make Ryan an honorary Corkman so he could support Munster.

He said that the Bath supporting Ryan showed no interest in taking him up on the offer.

The priest also made special mention for his girlfriend Laura who he said would be grieving more than most.

He said: “Hopefully Ryan will be a love of her life.

“But life does move on and in the future she will be able to look back with happy memories of their time together.”

He added that Ryan was a boy who lived his life for the gospel and would now be spending eternity with God.

In the eulogy Ryan’s family remembered his good humour and courage recalling a skiing holiday in which the three boys were learning on the nursery slopes.

Ryan however went missing and could not be found anywhere until someone spotted a small boy skiing at full speed down the main slope before coming to a smart stop in front of his relieved parents.

The eulogy also mentioned his love of football and the fact that he used to enjoy debating the finer points of the professional game with anyone who cared to listen.

An avid Arsenal fan Ryan got to see his beloved Gunners at Highbury and also against Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium.

As well as Daniel’s musical performance, in which he sang and played the saxophone, four hymns were sung and communion was taken by the Catholics present.