Funeral of 'loving' father-of-two

A poem by Julie Jackson was on the funeral booklet

More than 200 people have attended the funeral of a father-of-two who was killed after chasing suspected car thieves.

Kevin Jackson, 31, was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver close to his home in Skircoat Green, Halifax, on 30 December 2001.

He later died in hospital on New Year's Day, in what was described at the church service as a "dreadful loss".

Leading the service, the Reverend Tim Wilson, Vicar of All Saints church in Dudwell Lane, Halifax, paid tribute to Mr Jackson.

Above all these things, he was a loving husband to Julie, a great father to Jake and Tom, and a loyal friend to many

The Reverend Tom Wilson

He described him as a man who was "passionate about engineering" and who dedicated much of his spare time to working on his house and garden.

Mr Jackson left behind two sons, Jake and Tom, aged seven and 18-months, and his wife Julie, 33.

Mr Wilson said: "We are here to remember Kevin. We are here also to support Julie and the family in their dreadful loss.

'Most energetic'

"I know the family has already been moved by all the tokens of love and support they have received over the last two months.

"We are here, too, to pray for each other in our sadness and to pray for our society."

Mr Wilson said Mr Jackson was "the most energetic of people" who could "fix anything and would never say no to someone who wanted a shelf fixing or whose car wouldn't start.

Mr Jackson's son Jake at the service

"Above all these things, he was a loving husband to Julie, a great father to Jake and Tom, and a loyal friend to many."

During the 40-minute service, around 30 mourners stood at the back of the church after all the seats were filled.

Printed on the back of the service booklet was a poignant poem which had been written by Mrs Jackson about her husband.

Mrs Jackson, dressed in a knee-length black jacket and trousers with a purple flowery scarf and a black hat, then stood at the church door kissing and embracing mourners as they left.

Shortly after noon, the hearse was followed by family members in a procession of cars to St Stephen's church where a private burial was to take place.