Daniel Henry paid his own special tribute to his younger brother Ryan on Tuesday as people gathered to pay their last farewells to the teenager who lost his battle against leukaemia.

Daniel, 17, a sixth former at St Augustine’s Catholic College in Trowbridge, sang and played the saxophone to perform the 1969 Hollies track He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother, reducing many of the congregation in St Aldhelm’s Catholic Church in Malmesbury to tears.

Ryan, 15, who was also a pupil at St Augustine’s, died on April 2.

The hour-and-a-half long service was attended by his parents Malcolm and Kyla and two brothers Patrick, 19, and Daniel, who live in Hullavington. Patrick Henry read a passage from the Bible and then Daniel played his moving tribute. The church was filled with young people, almost all dressed in black, including many of Ryan’s schoolfriends.

Father George O’Sullivan spoke of Ryan’s short but full life, his love of sport and his relationship with his girlfriend Laura.

In a eulogy read by a family friend the Henry family thanked Laura ‘from the bottom of their hearts’ for making Ryan’s last few months the happiest of his life.

Recalling his own memories of Ryan as an altar boy Father O’Sullivan, who comes from Cork, spoke of their keen discussions about rugby and his offer to make Ryan an honorary Corkman so he could support Munster.

The priest said Laura would be grieving more than most, and added: “Hopefully Ryan will be a love of her life. But life does move on and in the future she will be able to look back with happy memories of their time together.”

Ryan’s family remembered his good humour and courage and his love of football: an avid Arsenal fan, Ryan got to see his beloved Gunners play at Highbury and also against Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium.

As well as Daniel’s musical performance, the service included four hymns and a communion celebration.