Memorial service note to friends

Mr Sudbury was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2006

Hundreds of people at a memorial service for a campaigning journalist who died from cancer were told in a message he left to leave with a smile.

Adrian Sudbury, 27, from Sheffield, worked on the Huddersfield Examiner paper and won a wide following in a blog describing his leukaemia.

He died in August and friends and family gathered at Sheffield Cathedral.

The service included a video tribute from Prime Minister Gordon Brown and a reading from Hollywood star Sean Bean.

Mr Sudbury's posthumous message was read to the congregation by the hospital chaplain who visited him at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

'Good times'

"Hello everyone, I hope there's a reasonable turnout - but let's face it, it doesn't really matter to me," it said.

"I want today to be a celebration of my life and all the good times we have shared together.

"Feel free to have tears in your eyes, but I hope more importantly, it will leave you with a smile on your face."

Actor Sean Bean was among those who took part in the service

Mr Sudbury's father Keith said at the service: "The brilliance of Adrian's campaign was its simplicity - educate 17 and 18-year-olds so they can make an informed choice.

"I hope you can all continue to work to see Adrian's wish come to fruition."

His mother Kay read a personal message from Children's Secretary Ed Balls in which he said he was "deeply saddened" by the death of her son, calling him a "true inspiration".

In Mr Balls' letter, he said: "There will be no better tribute to Adrian than the thousands of lives that will be saved as a result of his campaign".

Mrs Sudbury told the packed cathedral: "He was our lad.

"He was our boy and we've lost him.

"Adrian. We love you and we miss you and we'll never forget you".