HUNDREDS of people turned out to pay their final respects to a caring father who died following an alleged hit-and-run accident.

Gary ‘Cocka’ Wood, 42, died on June 7, five days after being knocked down a car in Seaham Road, Houghton-le-Spring.

The town came to a standstill on Friday as a Scottish piper led the Manchester United-themed funeral procession, which included a white horse-drawn carriage bearing his coffin, followed by hundreds of mourners.

Paying tribute during a funeral service at St Michael & All Angel Church in Houghton-le-Spring, Assistant Curate The Reverend Bryony Taylor said: “One of the deepest and most painful wounds anyone can suffer is that of grief.

“And today your grief is made all the more difficult by losing someone violently, unexpectedly and tragically in the prime of life.

“There are lots of emotions of grief and anger over Gary’s death. It is a shock to us because it was so sudden.”

The Northern Echo:

Gary ‘Cocka’ Wood

Mr Wood, who was born in Easington and grew up in Houghton-le-Spring, got the nickname Cocka as a lad, because he resembled a neighbour of the same name when he walk around wearing a cap, with his hands behind his back.

He achieved nine GCSEs and his first job was in scrap with one of his uncles. He later worked on building sites with another uncle. Later, his two brothers took him on in their business, Houghton Groundworks, where he worked for nine years up until his death, including as foreman.

His daughters Katelyn and Georgie were everything to him, the service was told.

Rev Taylor said: “Gary loved scrambling on motorbikes. He also liked coursing dogs – although he never let them kill the rabbits because he loved animals so much, so the family never got a rabbit pie.”

The family described Gary as “always smiling and cheerful – he was happy go lucky – he would light up any room”.

Rev Taylor said: “It is really important for everyone here this afternoon, to understand that what happened to Gary was dreadful, it is a great tragedy, the deepest hurt and upset, from which ripples of sadness will move and flow into many circles of relatives and friends.

“We must cherish was has been, recapture what was, and delight in the fun and happiness that Gary shared with us.”

During the service family members were invited to light candles in his memory as the song If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time by R Kelly was playing.

Mr Wood is survived by his parents Angie and Joe and siblings Ashley, Karl, Lee, Clint, Josie and Kay.

  • Four people, Liam Carr, 18, Gareth Bainbridge, 38, and two youths who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been charged with his murder and conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent on another person. A provisional trial date has been listed for November 28.