Funeral is held for 15-year-old girl Jessica Baker who died in M53 bus crash while on her way to school
Published: 14:12, 27 October 2023 | Updated: 14:58, 27 October 2023
A funeral has been held for a 15-year-old girl who tragically died in a school bus crash on a motorway last month.
Jessica Baker, 15, was killed instantly when the coach overturned near junction 5 of the M53 in Wirral, Merseyside, on September 29.
Coach driver Stephen Shrimpton, 40, also died in the accident as he took pupils to two local schools, West Kirby Grammar School and Calday Grange Grammar School.
Today, mourners arrived for Jessica's funeral at St Theresa's Catholic Church in Blacon, Chester, wearing black, with some carrying flowers.
The church was full for the ceremony, with a video link to the school next door for those who could not fit in.
The front of the order of service showed a graphic of a climber, in memory of Jessica who represented the North West and Wales in climbing competitions across the UK.
Jessica Baker (pictured), 15, was killed instantly when the school coach overturned near junction 5 of the M53 in Wirral, Merseyside, on September 29.
Sarah and Sean Baker, the parents of Jessica Baker, walk behind the hearse as it arrives at St Theresa's Catholic Church, in Chester
The coffin is carried into St Theresa's Catholic Church, in Chester, for the funeral of Jessica Baker
It also featured photos of Jessica, including one of her as a baby and one of her holding a football.
The family asked for donations to charity Climbers Against Cancer in memory of the teenager.
Heartbreaking photos showed Jessica's parents Sean and Sarah walking behind the hearse carrying her coffin and floral tributes as it arrived at the church. The coffin was sprinkled with Holy Water before it entered the church.
Jessica's parents and sister Rebecca spoke at the service and tributes were paid by her high school and climbing club. Her headteacher at West Kirby Grammar school Simeon Clarke was among the mourners.
Hymns including Abide With Me and Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer were sung and the poem She Is Gone was read.
Following the service, members of her family tearfully embraced each other outside the church before the cortege travelled to Blacon Crematorium.
Jessica was thrown from the vehicle and crushed underneath it when it veered off the carriageway, struck a tree and rolled down into an embankment.
Mr Shrimpton, the driver, suffered an 'event' at the wheel, a court heard earlier this month.
After her death, Jessica's family described her as a 'warm hearted wonderful daughter, granddaughter and niece, devoted sister and loyal friend'.
Jessica was a pupil at West Kirby Grammar school.
Headteacher Simeon Clarke was pictured arriving at St Theresa's Catholic Church
A touching floral tribute at St Theresa's Catholic Church, in Chester, for the funeral of Jessica Baker
The coffin is sprinkled with holy water before it is carried into St Theresa's Catholic Church
Mourners arrived for Jessica's funeral at St Theresa's Catholic Church in Blacon, Chester, wearing black, with some carrying flowers
Mourners bow their heads as the hearse carrying the coffin leaves St Theresa's Catholic Church
They said: 'Jessica was a talented and dedicated climber who competed over the last seven years of her life across the UK representing both the North West and Wales.
'Jessica loved all sports and chose GCSE PE as one of her options, but her overriding passion was for both indoor and outdoor climbing.
'Despite being a teenager, Jessica was able to communicate with everyone she came into contact with regardless of their age.
She was often seen offering support to fellow climbers on how to achieve a problem/route they were trying to complete.
'Jessica was planning to explore a career in sport in some way and was due to begin her coaching qualifications later this year towards this goal.'
Jessica's family added: 'Her untimely death has led to a massive void in our lives that will never be filled.
'She will be missed by many from not only school but also the climbing community across the country.'
Her school also paid tribute, saying she was 'unequivocally kind and empathetic... a dedicated friend who was a well-liked and respected member of our school community'.
No one was wearing seatbelts during the M53 school bus crash that killed 15-year-old schoolgirl Jessica Baker and driver Stephen Shrimpton, a coroner revealed last week
Jessica was described as a talented climber who was looking to pursue a career in sport
Jessica's family said: 'Her untimely death has led to a massive void in our lives that will never be filled'
Stephen Shrimpton, 40, who's believed to have suffered a medical episode at the wheel, died after the bus he was driving mounted the embankment between Junction 5 and 4 of the M56, in Eastham, Wirral, and overturned
Last week, it was revealed by a coroner that no one was wearing seatbelts when the coach crashed.
CCTV footage obtained by the coroner revealed that Jessica, along with the other 58 pupils on board, and the driver were not wearing a seatbelt.
The school children were being driven from Chester to West Kirby Grammar School and Calday Grange Grammar School in the Wirral.
Four others were taken to hospital including a 14-year-old boy who suffered life changing injuries.
A total of 52 people attended an emergency services training centre, with 39 discharged with no need for further treatment and 13 treated for minor injuries before being released.
References
- ^ Arthur Parashar (www.dailymail.co.uk)