Luke Mackenzie funeral service procession held in Basildon

Family, friends, colleagues, and Basildon residents attended a poignant and touching funeral service at St Martin of Tours church for Luke Mackenzie.

Mr Mackenzie tragically died aged 37 after a short battle with cancer.

Tribute - the procession was led by a convoy of motorcyclists (Image: Newsquest)

The ceremony saw an incredible turnout from Basildon residents, who lined the processional path of Mr Mackenzie’s hearse in respect for the beloved mayor, who was led into the church by a convoy of motorcyclists, reflecting his well-known love of motorbikes.

Basildon Council leader, Andrew Baggott, led the tributes for Mr Mackenzie with a touching speech in memory of the town’s seventh mayor.

Procession - Hearse arrives at Luke Mackenzie's funeral (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “It’s an absence, a void where a person should be.

“How dare this happen, what can take the blame? There is a quote by Ernest Hemingway that says that a man has two deaths, once when he is put in the ground and the last time someone says his name.

“Through the roles he had, Luke will remain eternal through the lives he has touched.

“Luke, colleague, friend, mayor of Basildon, fare thee well, I salute you.”

Mr Mackenzie’s long-time friend and fellow councillor, Craig Rimmer, paid tribute to a fun and caring man whose wisdom and conduct was a shining light for his own career.

Never forgotten - Luke Mackenzie (Image: Basildon Conservatives)

He said: “I think that Luke would have loved this and it shows how much he meant to the people of Basildon.

“He really flourished as mayor and to the people who have told me how much they have been touched, I am really glad.

“We are trying to channel his wisdom, thinking ‘what would Luke Mackenzie do?’.

“I am thankful for the days we had, they were rich and my friend, you will be very much missed.”

Mr Mackenzie’s sister, Jay-Marie Duncan, read a poem at the service, adding that “Luke loved people, he was a friend to many people” and would take any opportunity to get to know people over a coffee or a “something slightly harder.”

Friend of Mr Mackenzie, Mikaela Robinson, said: “I am someone who knew him his whole life, he gave me a purpose and I hope that I did him proud.

“When I first heard his diagnosis, it made me think of all he had yet to achieve. He never made a family but he did do all these things. He made his own family.”