Horse-drawn hearse in tribute to Middleton's 'mum' Elsie Young

Elsie Young (88), who passed away on October 8, was taken in the carriage which travelled from Middleton-on-Sea to the Chichester Crematorium.

The white Gelderlander horses, from Kent, were lilac plumed and had a flag draping from their sides. Her children Anthony, Neil, Karen and Tina had organised the funeral with Darren Miles Funeral Service of Felpham.

"My mum said once, jokingly, that she wanted white horses and a white carriage so that's what we did," said daughter Karen Young (48).

"She was full of life. She died on her mother's birthday and I reckon there was a big party up there in heaven and it was too good an invitation for my mum to turn down."

At the Chichester Crematorium a video was shown of Elsie singing in a karaoke final which had raised money for charity. A friend of Elsie's Helen Tottle, of Shrubbs Drive, said: "I'd known her for over 50 years and used to live next door. She was lovely, lots of fun. The funeral was absolutely magnificent. What a wonderful send off for her."

Elsie, of Middleton-on-Sea, was a court seamstress. She was once a Jitterbug champion, named best in the country during her dancing days. She loved animals, boxer dogs and horses in particular. She married her late husband Harold in 1941, who became chairman of J Lyons Food Company.

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