By Patrick LowmanHUNDRED'S of mourners have paid their final respects to a “gentle giant” who was killed in a horrific car accident on a notorious stretch of road.

By Patrick Lowman

HUNDRED'S of mourners have paid their final respects to a “gentle giant” who was killed in a horrific car accident on a notorious stretch of road.

The funeral of Jamie Murray, 20, was held at St Andrew's Church, Great Cornard, yesterday and was attended by more than 200 family members, friends and work colleagues.

Four of his closest friends carried his coffin into the church before the Rev Norma Cole conducted a touching service, where Mr Murray was described as a “sensitive and caring young man who would be sadly missed by everyone who knew him”.

Mr Murray, a keen body-builder and sportsman, of Wades Crescent, Little Waldingfield, died when his Ford Escort collided with a Chrysler Voyager on the B1115 between Sudbury and Great Cornard on May 8.

The accident happened just yards from where his school friend, Ross Morgans, 18, from Great Cornard, was killed in another car accident three years ago.

Although Mr Murray had recently moved to Little Waldingfield with his parents, Brian and Marlene, and younger brother, Jason, 18, he lived most of his life in Great Cornard and was educated at the village schools.

He was a successful runner, winning many awards, played football for Cornard Ramblers and was once of member of Sudbury Boxing Club and local martial arts groups.

Following the church service Mr Murray was buried at Cornard Cemetery, close to the graves of his grandparents.

His uncle and chairman of Great Cornard Parish Council, Peter Beer, said: “Jamie was a very popular lad and around 250 people came to the funeral.

“It was a very emotional service and it was very traumatic for the whole family, particularly his parents and brother.

“It was a very touching and emotional service, it is very hard for the family to come to terms with losing Jamie at such a young age, but we are a big family and we will pull together to get through this terrible time. Jamie will be sadly missed by us all.”

Mr Beer also renewed appeals for improved safety measures to be introduced along the B115 and has been backed by Tim Yeo, the South Suffolk MP.

“We all want to see that stretch of road improved before more lives are lost. Mr Yeo has now written back to Great Cornard Parish Council to say he will back our calls for improvements,” he said.

Mr Murray is the 22nd person to be killed or injured during road accidents on the B1115 since 1999.

patrick.lowman@eadt.co.uk