THERE are few things as hard to do as giving a tribute at a funeral. You steel yourself at the start, determined to speak clearly, but then the poignancy of the occasion can overtake you... and you start welling up.

It doesn’t matter.

What matters is what you say – and just you standing there – touches emotions shared by all around you. When the funeral follows the tragic death of a young person like Michael Walker the tributes given by friends and family are all the more meaningful.

It is a privilege to read the moving words spoken by Michael’s sister, giving an insight into their close relationship, and to know his younger brother found the courage to step up and read a poem, intimately personal.

And the eloquent tribute read out from Michael’s devastated mum and dad is heartrendingly tender, giving us all a vivid picture of an exceptional young man so loved and so missed.

No wonder they are proud he was their son.