Funeral for Alice Rae who died after anorexia battle

Alice Rae, 18, from Houghton, near Winchester, was buried following a service in All Saints Church, Houghton, attended by more than 130 people.

The clergyman who conducted the funeral described it as a ''very moving and beautiful'' tribute to a ''very special person''.

Miss Rae's body was taken into the church in a wicker coffin chosen by her family which was covered with pink roses.

Miss Rae's brothers and sister William, Tom and Georgina spoke movingly about the life of their sister, while friends also took part in the service.

The student's friends offered their own reflections on the teenager and read the poem Death Is Nothing At All by Canon Henry Scott-Holland.

As well as prayers and readings, the congregation sang the hymns Lord Of All Hopefulness, Lord Of The Dance and Abide With Me.

The Rev Ronald Corne, Rector of Broughton with Bossington and Houghton and Mottisfont, who conducted the service, said afterwards: ''All the young people spoke movingly of her sister and friend, of what a lovely girl she was, and how much they were all going to miss her.

''The funeral service for Alice Rae was obviously heartbreaking and poignant but it was also filled with great thanksgiving for the gift of a very special person and her life.

''It was a very moving and beautiful service but of course extremely difficult.

''The service was also an important element in assisting Alice's family and friends in their grieving and in the eventual process of healing.

''The church and especially the ministry team will continue to care for the family and will be supporting them with pastoral care in the days and months to come.

''At this stage the family feel unable to speak publicly about the loss of their daughter and appreciate some time and space to come to terms with their grief.''

Miss Rae had finished her A-levels and had a place at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, at the time of her death.

She was found dead in her bed by her GP mother, Dr Christine Rae, at the home she shared with her mother and father Peter, a company director, on Wednesday January 14.

Before the funeral, Dr Helen Harvey, headmistress of the private St Swithun's School in Winchester, said: ''I was very upset and shocked to hear of Alice's death following her two year battle with anorexia.

''She left St Swithun's three years ago having achieved 9 A*s at GCSE and during her time here, I remember her as a highly intelligent, happy, well-liked member of the school community who played a full part in school life and had huge potential for the future.

''Everyone who knew Alice is deeply saddened by her death and our thoughts are with her parents and family.''

Miss Rae was treated at an eating disorder clinic in Eastleigh, run by the Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust.

Following her death the trust said it was undertaking a full review of the care Miss Rae received after the family said they were unhappy with her treatment.

An inquest into Miss Rae's death was opened and adjourned on January 21 by Central Hampshire Assistant Deputy Coroner Christopher Wilkinson and the cause of death is to be investigated.