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18:05 GMT, Monday, 17 November 2008

Funeral for fire death brothers

Taylor and Lewis Jenkins

A funeral service for two young boys who died in a house fire has taken place in East Sussex.

Lewis Jenkins, seven, and his brother Taylor, five, died from inhaling fumes in the fire in Milfoil Drive, Eastbourne, on 4 October.

A private funeral service for family and friends at Eastbourne Crematorium heard how the boys "adored" each other.

Their mother, Denise Goldsmith, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and child neglect and bailed.

Sussex Police have said they are not treating the fire as arson.

During the hour-long service Ms Goldsmith put a teddy on each of the coffins which were covered in hand-painted scenes from under the sea.

'Ray of sunshine'

Father Bill Haymaker, who presided over the service, spoke of how the boys loved sea creatures.

"The boys were drawn to the water," he said. "They particularly loved sharks."

In his homily he likened the brothers to a ray of sunshine.

"They adored one another. Dressing up as superheroes, they would set out on secret missions, hoping to conquer the world together."

A eulogy was given on behalf of the boys' father, Stewart Jenkins, who is currently on remand in prison awaiting trial for rape and is understood to be estranged from Ms Goldsmith.

It said: "I was so proud of my boys and so in love with them.

"I may have lost my boys, but there is one thing I do know; my love for my babies is not lost and will never die."

A coffin is taken into the crematorium

Scores of bouquets and tributes still lie outside the boarded-up end-of-terrace house where the boys died.

Ms Goldsmith was released on police bail until early December after being questioned by detectives.

In a statement, her solicitor said the 29-year-old tried to do everything she could to save her sons and was devastated by their loss.

About 150 people attended a one-hour memorial service at the Shinewater Community Church, close to the boys' home.

More than 3,000 tributes have also been left on a memorial page on the internet.




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Related to this story:
Service held for fire death boys (12 Oct 08 |  Sussex )
Fire mother 'did all she could' (10 Oct 08 |  Sussex )
Mother is bailed over fire deaths (09 Oct 08 |  Sussex )
Tributes to fire death brothers (06 Oct 08 |  Sussex )
Boys' fire death house searched (05 Oct 08 |  Sussex )
Young brothers die in house fire (04 Oct 08 |  Sussex )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
Sussex Police
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