Alice da Silva Aguiar’s family honours ‘angel’ at funeral as final photo released

Alice da Silva Aguiar’s headteacher has paid an emotional tribute to the nine-year-old at her funeral, tearfully saying “teach those angels a few dance moves”.

Jinnie Payne, Alice’s headteacher at Churchtown Primary School in Southport, listed the youngster’s smile and enthusiasm for life among her “seven qualities”.

Ms Payne read a poem about her pupil, called Here Comes Alice, in which she mentioned how Alice once decorated a teacher’s pointer to look like a magic wand.

The parents of nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar were praised by a senior police officer for their “courage” in calling for violent riots to stop after their daughter’s death.

Serena Kennedy, Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, was among those who addressed mourners at Alice’s funeral at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Southport on Sunday.

She told of being “ashamed” that Alice’s father Sergio and mother Alexandra had to “consider” the violent disorder while planning the service, saying she hoped those involved are “hanging their head in shame”.

Addressing the couple, Ms Kennedy said: “You have shown great courage in asking me to be here today to give a message from you, Alice’s family, to say that you do not want there to be any more violence on the streets of the United Kingdom in the name of your daughter.

“I am ashamed and I’m so sorry that you had to even consider this in the planning of the funeral of your beautiful daughter, Alice.

“And I hope that anyone who has taken part in the violent disorder on our streets over the past 13 days is hanging their head in shame at the pain that they have caused you, a grieving family.

“I know that you asked that there is no more violence and that you are now given time as a family to grieve in peace.

“And that our traumatised community is allowed time to heal, the time it needs to start to heal.”

Labour’s Southport MP Patrick Hurley added: “There are no adequate words to express the town’s shock and distress at the atrocity which befell Alice and the other little girls two weeks ago.”

Thanks for the efforts of the UK authorities in response to the tragedy were also offered by Sara Madruga da Costa on behalf of the Portuguese authorities.

Tributes have been paid to Alice da Silva Aguiar at her funeral service in Southport on Sunday, with the parish priest describing her smile as “more radiant than the sun”.

Fr John Heneghan also said Alice was a regular at Mass at St Patrick’s.

The youngster’s headteacher at Churchtown Primary School, Jinnie Payne, also listed Alice’s smile among her “seven qualities”.

She said: “Number one, to have a big smile. Not to smile big, there is a difference. Alice wore a natural smile every day, it wasn’t forced and it wasn’t put on. It was everywhere she went. It was her best friend.

“Number two, polite and respectful. Alice’s manners took her everywhere. She showed politeness, not just ‘thank you’, but always ‘thank you’ with a reason attached.

“Number three, to have interest in others, genuine interest and being inquisitive. Alice asked lots of questions and she remembered things about you. She remembered the names of your children, she remembered where you went on holiday, so you had to be very careful about what you told Alice.

“Number four, equality, I love this one. This has to be my favourite, how a child at such a young age could not favour one other friend over another. Friends, she played equally with them all. That is so hard to do, and she mastered it.

“(Number five), enthusiasm for life. Alice wanted to do everything there was on offer and she seized those opportunities and you (her parents) provided them for Alice.

“But along with those opportunities is number six. She did support and guide. So if she felt things weren’t up to her standard she would tell you, and she would then help you put it right.

“Finally, the number seven is family. Alice’s words, ‘it doesn’t matter who your family are as long as they love each other’, and Alice did that.”

Hundreds of mourners gathered for the funeral of “dream child” Alice da Silva Aguiar, who was killed in a mass stabbing at a dance class in Southport.

The nine-year-old’s parents Sergio and Alexandra were joined by family and friends at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in the town.

Among those who also paid their respects were Serena Kennedy, Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, along with uniformed officers from the police and the ambulance and fire services.

Members of the public lined Marshside Road as the funeral cortege arrived, along with about 30 uniformed police officers.

Pink ribbons and balloons were tied to lamp posts and garden walls.

Applause broke out as the carriage, drawn by two white horses sporting orange and white plumes and containing the youngster’s white coffin, approached the church entrance.

Several hundred people packed into the church while more listened outside as the service was relayed on loudspeakers.

Alice da Silva Aguiar’s parents have told of the “unimaginable pain” of their nine-year-old daughter being “taken away from us too soon” at her funeral service in Southport.

Speaking at St Patrick’s Catholic Church on Sunday, her father Sergio and mother Alexandra said: “A day before your final struggle, mummy kept asking if you were okay. So much so that you and daddy asked ‘why?’

“A part of me wondered if I was being too British. But ultimately, I realised I always wanted to know that you were okay. Now, daddy feels sorry for mummy, she has seen things no human should.

“You were taken away from us too soon and we often ask why? Why here? Why us? Why you? We wonder if you ever thought of us. Called for us. We wondered if you felt any pain. We hope not my darling.

“We then question could this have been avoided? Could we have stopped it somehow… we will never get over this pain. We promise to get all the answers. Mummy has seen too much, and we need to know.

“We feel shocked, unimaginable pain, we miss you.

“From time to time, the pin drops. When mommy says ‘good night, Sergio, good night Alice’ and then it hits us all over again. We don’t hear you back.

“Moving forward will be hard. Some days are better than others, but none will be perfect. Some moments we are weak and we say wild things. But we made a promise to always be there for each other in moments of despair, a pinky promise.

“We share a strong bond and we’ll always have each other to rely on. We won’t be alone. We are surrounded by a wonderful community and their full support, family and friends, neighbours, work colleagues, the wonderful servicemen and women who serve the community, your school, your church and all your friends and their parents.

“We have the full support of the country and the privilege of multiplying that by two. For that, we’re thankful.

“For now, our beloved Angel, keep dancing, mummy and daddy will always, always love you.”

Alice da Silva Aguiar’s parents have described her as their “perfect dream child” and told of how she was dedicated to dance in a tribute given at her funeral service in Southport.

Speaking at St Patrick’s Catholic Church on Sunday, her father Sergio and mother Alexandra said that “everything was idyllic from the moment” the nine-year-old arrived.

They continued: “A good girl, with strong values and kind nature. A lover of animals and an environmentalist in the making. You moved our world with your confidence and empathy. Playful energetic, friendly, and always so respectful.

“A peacemaker of the playground. No shouting is a house rule you applied. A big task for a small girl, especially in a Portuguese household.

“Being around you was a privilege, we cherished every milestone. You completed us.

“In nine short years, we never needed time off from you. We never gave up our time for anything that didn’t involve you too. And if we did, we’d always do it separately so you could have one of us always next to you.”

They went on: “You were born and raised into love and we loved cuddling you every night for almost nine years. Apart from the sleepovers and nights away with your friends, we were never apart. You liked to sleep with mummy and daddy, enjoyed shutting the curtains and watching Disney Plus with popcorn. Our room was your comfort place. You were our comfort and peace.

“As you were growing up from a princess to a pre-teen, we began to notice some changes, seeing your independence take shape. From your skincare regime to playing with makeup, to your dedication to school, to dance and to your faith.

“Your to-do-list was extensive and we were sure that you would achieve it if only you had the time.

“We talked about which high school you might attend, about growing up, having a big house and a garden and having children. Children who we will never help you raise. It hurts. We will never see you grow up.”

A picture of Alice da Silva Aguiar eagerly waiting to get into the Taylor Swift-themed dance class where she was fatally stabbed has been released by her grieving family.

The nine-year-old is shown smiling with a life-size cardboard cut-out of the singer in the doorway of the Hart Space studio, in Hart Street, Southport.

The youngster – who is pictured wearing leggings, trainers and a T-shirt with the slogan Vacay Vibes – was just starting her school summer holidays.

She was dedicated to dance, her parents said in a tribute given at her funeral at St Patrick’s Catholic Church, in Southport, on Sunday.

Alice’s family also released a number of other images as well as some footage of the nine-year-old following the service.

The horse-drawn hearse carrying the coffin of Alice da Silva Aguiar has left St Patrick’s Church in Southport after her funeral.

The nine-year-old was killed alongside two other young girls in a knife attack at a dance class in Southport on 29 July.