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Horse guest of honour at Gillingham funeral of owner Janette Whybrow at Woodlands Road Cemetery after cancer battle

13:00, 04 March 2014

A woman whose two biggest joys in life were her family and her horse was joined by both when she was laid to rest today.

Janette Whybrow was 57 when she lost her long-term battle with cancer in January, having got the all clear just a few months before.

Placed in a carriage pulled by two large grey horses, the mother and grandmother was taken to Woodlands Road Cemetery, Gillingham, with a procession of mourners following.

Kerry the horse joined mourners at Janette Whybrow's funeral
Kerry the horse joined mourners at Janette Whybrow's funeral

After the service, the crowd was joined by Kerry the horse Jan - as she was better known - had owned from a foal.

With a dark rug embroidered with "Miss you Mummy" the grey horse neighed his last to Jan as her family threw yellow roses on her coffin.

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A horse-drawn carriage arrives at the funeral
A horse-drawn carriage arrives at the funeral
Floral tributes to Janette Whybrow, who died of cancer
Floral tributes to Janette Whybrow, who died of cancer
The funeral was held at Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham
The funeral was held at Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham
Janette Whybrow and her horse Kerry after winning a dressage competition
Janette Whybrow and her horse Kerry after winning a dressage competition

At the service, which was designed to be a celebration of her life, her sister Lynda Murphy began by reading the poem Feel Not Guilt in Laughter.

The first song Jan and husband bought together, My Sweet Lord by George Harrison, was played along with Always On My Mind by Elvis and James Blunt's Bonfire Heart.

Video: Kerry the horse joins mourners in Gillingham

For more tributes to much-loved Janette Whybrow, pick up a copy of this Friday's Medway Messenger.

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