Hundreds mourning murdered organist

Feb 6 2013

Hundreds of people have packed into two churches to pay their respects to a lay preacher and organist who was murdered on his way to a Christmas service.

The funeral service for Alan Greaves, who was 68, took place at St Saviour's Church in High Green, Sheffield, just a few hundred metres from where he was attacked.

The service was also shown via video link in the packed St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, which is just down the road.

The cortege arrived outside St Saviour's where Mr Greaves's widow, Maureen, was joined by family members to watch the wicker coffin carried into church.

There were no flowers in the black hearse, although the lead mourner carried four red roses ahead of the pallbearers.

Members of the public who could not get into church gathered in freezing temperatures outside to listen on speakers.

Mr Greaves suffered head injuries on Greengate Lane, close to his home at around 11.10pm on December 24.

He died in hospital three days later.

Two men have appeared in court charged with Mr Greaves' murder.