Funeral of elderly garage owner

Henry Raybould was "well respected"

The funeral has taken place of an elderly garage owner who was run over as he allegedly tried to stop a car being taken off the forecourt.

Relatives and friends of Henry Raybould attended a service at Himley Road Methodist Church, Lower Gornal, West Midlands, before moving on to Gornalwood Crematorium for a cremation ceremony.

The 75-year-old died, and his son Paul was injured, as they allegedly tried to prevent the vehicle leaving the family-run premises in Dudley.

A funeral cortege left Mr Raybould's home in Gornalwood about 30 minutes before the service began at 1115 BST on Thursday.

Murder charges

Local businesses along the route were closed as a mark of respect.

Mr Raybould, a devout Christian, was described by family and friends as a gentlemen who was well-known and respected in the local community.

There was not enough room for all the mourners in the church

Dave Pope, a spokesman for the memorial fund that has been set up in memory of the 75-year-old, said it was a moving service.

"There was a real sense of peace about the whole thing, but there was also an air of celebration, celebrating his life.

"He was a tremendous person, a committed Christian.

"People were singing his hymns, the hymns he would often whistle in his garage.

"So there was a sense of celebration, but also of great loss as well."

A 24-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy have been remanded in custody charged with the murder of Mr Raybould and conspiring with others to steal two cars.

The pair are also charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Paul Raybould.

The defendants will appear before a judge at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 30 September.