Heartbroken mum of Manchester bombing victim Olivia Campbell asks mourners to wear bright colours at her funeral
Teenager's family intend service to be a ‘celebration of her life’ and are welcoming members of the public to attend but urge them to make donations to school music department
THE family of a teenager killed in the Manchester terror attack have asked members of the public not to wear black as they prepare for her funeral.
The service for Olivia Campbell, who was 15 when she died, is intended to ‘celebrate her life’ rather than mourn her passing.
The funeral is open to members of the public but attendees are encouraged to wear blue or other bright colours as well as make donations to her school’s music department rather than bring flowers.
The service is to be held next week on June 20 at St Anne’s Church in Tottington at 1.30pm followed by her cremation at Radcliffe Crematorium, reported the .
Olivia had gone to the concert by Ariana Grande at Manchester Arena with her friend Adam Lawler who was badly injured by the blast.
She hadn’t meant to be going but jumped at the chance after one of Adam’s other friends couldn’t make it.
After Olivia’s mum, Charlotte, heard the news she tried desperately to contact her daughter on her mobile phone but was unable to get through.
The following evening Olivia’s stepdad Paul Hodgson received the call the family had been dreading which confirmed her tragic death.
The family now want to celebrate the life of the “funny and beautiful” girl who “was born to sing and dance”.
Olivia had previously auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent in Manchester and sang her favourite song All of Me by US artist John Legend.
A recording of the song, which she also sang at her grandmother Ruth Field’s wedding three years ago, will be played at the funeral.
Charlotte, who last week met Ariana Grande ahead of her One Love Manchester concert, said: “We are asking everyone to wear blue or bright colours, no black, and casual as that’s what she would have wanted. We want this to be a celebration of her life.”
The 36-year-old said the public were welcome but hoped they would “respect family and close friends first” and are hoping to have the service relayed via speakers to people outside.
The donations to the music department at Tottington High School will also include the youngster’s keyboard, microphone, and amp.
Her family said she had dreamed of becoming a music teacher and want other pupils to enjoy learning music in Olivia’s memory.
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