Goodbye Liam Griffiths: Hundreds gather for final farewell to ‘beautiful, funny, caring’ lad

Hundreds of mourners gathered to say a heartbreaking goodbye to ‘big softie’ rigger Liam Griffiths after he sadly lost his life to cancer.

The brave Teesside lad who brought joy and laughter to everyone sadly died in January. Family and friends packed the Stockton Parish Church for the 31-year-old’s moving funeral service today (February 1).

Freya Ridings’ Lost Without You was played while Liam’s coffin, adorned with a red and white floral cross, was carried into church by loved ones.

Read more: Son bitter about divorced dad’s inheritance plan laid in wait then tried to kill him

Reverend John Hearn led the service with memories from Liam’s loved ones, including his mum, Susan, and dad Peter. He said: “Liam was a beautiful, funny, caring, big softie. As a kid he was very loving towards his mam and dad. There was always a cuddle. He also had his cheeky side.”

After leaving school Liam joined the Army, Rev Hearn explained, but the ‘mammy’s boy’ missed being away from home too much. There were smiles from the congregation as they remembered Liam’s raft of different jobs, including, car salesman, model, chef and barber.

Rev Hearn said Liam’s illness caused him excruciating pain. He said: “Throughout his illness he tried to live his life as normal, but the pain he was experiencing was too much. He was in agony. To hear your son, your brother, your friend scream for help and to end his life is something that the family will be haunted with forever.”

He said when Liam took his last breath in Alice House Hospice the family knew he was out of pain, but their pain began. Rev Hearn said as well as saying goodbye it was a day to celebrate Liam’s life. He said: “He was a young man who made an impact on many, many people, he touched their lives in many different ways.”

Amazing Grace and Ed Sheeren’s Autumn Leaves were played during the service and Liam’s coffin was carried out to the music of Dean Lewis, How Do I Say Goodbye. Liam, who came from Ingleby Barwick, touched the hearts of Yorkshire and beyond when he bravely spoke out about his terminal cancer diagnosis, urging others to not leave it too late if they think something is wrong.

Liam was away working on the rigs in March last year when he started having problems with his stomach. He was suffering from agonising stomach pain and chronic constipation.

Once home he visited North Tees Hospital where medics initially thought he might have Crohn’s Disease. But, a scan showed a perforated bowel and he was rushed into surgery. Doctors dealt the devastating blow a few weeks later that he had the rare peritoneal cancer and was left with just months to live.

Get breaking news in Yorkshire straight to your phone