007 send off for action man James (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

007 send off for action man James

3:15pm Friday 12th September 2008 in Corsham By Rachel Allen

HUNDREDS of mourners packed in to St Thomas a Becket Church, in Box today for the funeral of 20-year-old James Bentley.

The sportsman from Box died at his student home in Bathampton on August 30 from a severe epileptic seizure a month before his 21st birthday.

Extra seating had to be provided after more than 200 people turned up to celebrate the life of the popular footballer.

The service started with the James Bond medley in tribute to Mr Bentley's action-packed life and his way with the ladies.

The service was led by the Reverend Val Plumb with the help of the Reverend Dr Janet Anderson- MacKenzie.

His Father Ivor Bentley paid a light but heart felt tribute to both his son and nephew Matthew Pucket who died exactly two months before James in a car crash.

"James you are loved and missed and although the light has gone out in our hearts the stars will be brighter and better for you being amongst them with Matt.

"Look after and take care of each other until we get there and give you a big hug. Then I'm going to give you the biggest bollocking for going off without telling us," he said.

Mr Bentley's family and friends listened to memories of his fun-loving adventures with his many friends, especially best friend James Adams. The friends were known as James A and James B and were so close people thought they were brothers.

Paying tribute to his friend of 17 years he said: "How do you say goodbye to your best friend? A young 20-year-old."

He reminisced about their childhood which they spent together. He fondly spoke of their adventures in their two storey tree house that his dad Steve Adams built for them. The times when they went on long-haul walks and annual holidays to Wales to see Mr Adams' grandparents.

Mr Adams finished his tribute with a tearful goodbye.

He said: "I thought we would be friends forever, getting old, like our dads, looking back on our memories, sat in the garden with our own kids.

"I don't know how I will live without him. No one could ever replace him. So let's not mourn his death, let us celebrate his life. That's what he would have wanted."

People listened to songs in memory of Mr Bentley including a favourite hymn of his, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Bye Bye by Mariah Carey and I Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith.

Another favourite of his played near the end of the service was, All the Small Things by Blink 182 and I'll Be There For You, in memory of his love for sitcom Friends.

His coffin was carried out to The Court of King Caractacus by Rolf Harris, which Mr Bentley had boasted singing from start to finish.

Mr Bentley's family have asked for any donations to be made to the James Bentley Epilepsy Fund.