Final farewell to Lincoln graduate Carly Lovett, killed in Tunisia attack

Hundreds of family members, friends and the public paid their respects at the funeral of University of Lincoln graduate Carly Jade Lovett, who was murdered in the Tunisian terrorist attack last month.

Around 350 people paid their respects to the 24-year-old fashion blogger and photographer from Gainsborough, who was killed along with 37 others when Seifiddine Rezgui Yacoubi opened fire in the beach resort of Port El Kantaoui on June 26.

Carly Lovett graduated from the University of Lincoln in 2013.

Fiancé Liam Moore, who had been with Carly for ten and a half years, gave an emotional tribute at the service held in All Saints’ Parish Church in Gainsborough on July 17.

He said: “Carly was my best friend, my soul mate and beautiful in every way possible.

“I never felt closer to anyone in my life and my love for her kept growing and growing day by day.

“Even though we had been together for so long it felt like our lives with each other had just begun.

“After it happened she told me that she loved me, I told her that I loved her, I hope she took comfort in knowing that I was there with her. I would never have left her as I know she would never have left me.”

Hundreds gathered at the church to pay their final farewell to Carly. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Canon Mike Cooney, parish priest for Gainsborough and Morton, delivered a moving eulogy on behalf of Carly’s family, describing her as a “bright, talented, funny and caring person.”

He said: “This is painful for us as we say our final farewell to Carly with a deep sense of sadness and sorrow.

“She saw the best in people and did not like it if anyone was upset. She believed everyone should be treated as individuals. She was not only bright and talented but good with people and very popular from an early age.”

Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

University friend and business partner Kristina Mann also gave a tearful tribute and said: “We had so much more to do together.”

Gainsborough MP, Sir Edward Leigh, added: “It’s a very sad occasion for Gainsborough and for the county as a whole.

“Obviously, Carly was a very bright, lovely girl and it was a fitting tribute which underlines the senseless cruelty which achieves absolutely nothing apart from causing complete misery.”