Family's plea for son, 7, killed in hit and run to be buried in spot he played

09 December 2023 , 16:45

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Family's plea for son, 7, killed in hit and run to be buried in spot he played

The devastated parents of a little boy killed in a hit and run have asked Church of England to allow for him be buried in the ancient graveyard where he played every day after school.

William Brown, seven, was knocked down by a car outside his home on Wednesday evening after jumping over a wall to fetch his ball. Police in Folkestone, Kent, have arrested a 49-year-old man as they investigate the collision.

The boy's grief-stricken parents Laura and William want him to be laid to rest in the ancient graveyard at St Eanswythe's Church of England School where William was a pupil, as he had spent so many happy times there.

William Ian Brown was killed in a hit-and-run collision in Kent (Supplied)

William senior, 34, said last night: "I know this is where Will would have wanted to be buried. This would have been his wish." It is understood the church vicar, Father John Walker, has no objection in principle to allowing the burial to take place. Only the local council, though, can give authorisation for a burial to take place at this ancient graveyard, it is believed.

Laura, 41, told Mail Online: "He went there every day after school to pick wild garlic, collecting conkers and pinecones, or just digging with a stick. If he were laid to rest there, he will be amongst the heart of the community that he loved. He would be among his school friends and we his parents could visit him every day and so could his little sister Pearl who still goes to the school."

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Floral tributes left in Folkestone, Kent for seven-year-old William Brown (ReachPLC)

The youngster, who was baptised and brought up a Christian, loved football, his parents said. He idolised former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo, William's mum Laura, a beauty therapist, said. Tributes flooded in for William after his death on Wednesday.

The last recorded burial at the ancient church was in the Victoria era, at around 1860. However, the church vicar, Father John Walker, has no objection in principle to allowing the burial to take place, it is believed.

A Folkestone & Hythe District Council spokesperson said: "We extend our deepest condolences to William's family and our thoughts are with them at this very sad time. St Eanswythe's is a closed churchyard and no burials have taken place there for many years. We are not aware that there is any space available. We will, however, look into this for William's parents and see if their wish could be met."

Bradley Jolly