Hundreds say goodbye to stabbed teen

5:46pm Wednesday 25th June 2008

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HUNDREDS of people packed into a church in Sidcup this afternoon to celebrate the life of Rob Knox.

A memorial service was held at St John the Evangelist Church, in Church Road.

Before the two-hour service family and close friends attended a funeral service at Eltham Crematorium in Crown Woods Way, Eltham.

Actor Rob, 18, was stabbed in an incident outside the Metro Bar, Station Road, Sidcup, on May 23.

A post-mortem examination showed the teenager's death was caused by internal bleeding as a result of stab injuries.

During the service Rob's father Colin told stories from his son's life, punctuated with bursts of laughter and tears.

Mr Knox said the experience of trying to summarise years of laughter and his son's presence in a few words was "surreal".

He said Rob had always loved films, performing and dressing up.

He said his son spoke with great pride and enthusiasm about his role in the latest Harry Potter movie - Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince - in which he plays the character Marcus Belby.

Mr Knox said: "He so wanted to act and get on in that field.

"He was just finding out that this might be the break that he needed, and it was turning out that way until he was taken from us."

Posthumous award for Rob

Mr Knox also spoke of a message Rob's mum, Sally had received from north Kent police.

The message said their son would receive a posthumous award for helping police track down a man following an assault in Marks and Spencer in Bluewater.

Rob was one of five members of staff who chased after the masked man following the assault in the store on May 24 2007 - one year before Rob was killed.

The message from police said that Rob had acted "without thought for his own safety" and in recognition of this he would be awarded at the North Kent police area commander's awards.

A celebration of Rob's life

Rob was a keen sportsman who played rugby for Sidcup - the same club as Jimmy Mizen, who was killed in a baker's shop in Lee on May 10.

Strands of Rob's life came together during the service when his father introduced singers from D&B Theatre School - where Rob and his brother Jamie, 17, both trained.

A large choir from the school in Downham Road, Downham, sang Wonderwall by Oasis - the song Rob and his team-mates from Sidcup Rugby Club sang while on tour in South Africa.

Speaking after the service his father said: "The past few weeks have been the hardest we have ever had to face.

"Nothing could replace our Rob who we loved so much.

"We have been living a nightmare on a daily basis.

"We can't make sense of his death but we can make sense of his short life.

"Rob's spirit and love will always be with us."

He thanked everyone who had sent letters and words of support to the family, who live in Maidstone Road, Sidcup.

And he offered a message of comfort to the family of Jimmy Mizen.

Friends and family at the service dressed in colourful summer clothes and some wore black and pink t-shirts with the slogan "2Young to die".

Friend Callum Turner described Rob as a "happy-go-lucky guy".

Sobbing, he said: "Rob was a legend who willl never be forgotten.

"A star among us and the brightest star in the sky."

• Karl Bishop, aged 21, of Beaver Lodge, Carlton Road, Sidcup, will appear at the Old Bailey in September charged with murder and wounding five other people with intent.