Celebration of Dylan Harpwood’s life
Friday 13th September 2019 1pm – 4pm at Highbury Hall, Moseley
Family and friends are invited to a ceremony at Highbury Hall to remember and celebrate Dylan.
This will be a chance for Dylan’s family and friends to share memories and reflect on his life. A service will take place from 1pm which will last around an hour and afterwards everyone is invited to remain for refreshments until 4pm.
A private cremation with immediate family will take place the next day.
You will find more information such as maps and dress code in the tabs below.
Dylan’s family also welcome any tributes, words of remembrance and stories about him so do feel free to leave any messages at the bottom of this webpage.
Devistated to hear this news, I am so sorry that Dylan is not still with us. I can hardly believe it. My heart goes out to you both for the pain of loss and confusion you are feeling now. I wish for strength for you, I wish peace for you in future times and I wish for you to be filled with love fom your friends and family. If there is anything that I can do, ask. Love Clare xxx
Our memories of Dylan
Dylan Harpwood was a pupil at Park Hill Primary school; we remember him well – these are some of the messages and memories from staff:
I remember teaching him in reception; I recall him being a well-liked and amiable member of the class. He was well thought of by all staff that worked with him. As a young child he was very eager to learn and developed his reading quickly. I feel privileged to have had the pleasure of teaching him and he will remain in my thoughts.
I taught Dylan in year one. I remember his curly blonde hair and his big eyes. I remember a boy interested in learning about the world around him, curious about how things worked and an ability to engage with both children and adults. I remember him running out of school to meet his mom or dad and chasing his sisters around the push chair and through the willow arch. Full of stories from his school day, full of life and full of fun.
In Y3 year we really did become ancient Egyptians as everything we did was driven through our topic of Ancient Egypt. We split up the year group for certain activities and I remember when Dylan made an Egyptian headdress. I was struck by his creativity and strong desire to make the headdress individual and special to him. He was determined that he would not simply copy the example but that his would stand out from the rest and indeed it did.
I remember how Liv would often be excitedly telling me that she and Dylan were writing stories together at home. I used to think that it was lovely they got on well enough to do that.
I remember Ben and Dylan coming to the Lads and Dads weekend; Dylan threw himself into all the adventurous activities and it was lovely to have had the experience with both of them.
Our school community has been deeply saddened by Dylan’s tragic death; our thoughts and prayers are with Kerrie, Ben, Liv and Evie.
He was good guy
Dylan was an extremely hard working and valued member of our work team here at Lower Trinity Street Venues. He was only working here for a short time, but managed to fit in really well and became a well liked member of staff. We were all devastated to hear the news that Dylan had passed and we send our deepest condolences to his family. Dylan’s presence shall be sorely missed in our workplace and shall definitely be someone that we shall all never forget.
Any support we can give, we shall be more than happy to oblige.
Love all at The Lower Trinity Street Venues x
Dearest Kerrie, Ben, Evie & Liv
As you know I am so desperately sorry for your loss. I loved Dylbot like I love you all like you are my family! So I decided to write him a letter. I hope the love he so evidently conjured will go some way to comfort you all through your loss. Here’s my letter:
Dear Dylan or Dylbot as I’ve known you,
Gorgeous, smiley, cuddly baby boy that you were & from what I could see man you’d become, so affectionate and loving, to your family. Having known you since you were months old as a baby at breast feeding clinic, we (Lucy & I) went on to hang out with you and your mum at the beginning of the week & you & your dad on Fridays. This was followed by years of ‘stay and play’, Cornerstone cheesy beans, picnics and private park chipnics, games of rounders’, swimming at cocks moors & Moseley baths and hours & hours of playing and parental coffee drinking and cake eating. All the way through via family parties, NYE gatherings and BBQs to the teen years – to the dapper young man at the after-prom party.
A big feature of my memories was your crazy growing (because you were) appetite! eating all the pizza in sight; or helping yourself to the specially marinated (by a guest, not me) piece of beef at a BBQ, thinking it was a steak and polishing it off, as the grown-ups looked on to your ‘what?’; to introducing us to the best kebabs in Balsall heath! All the while chattering, squabbling & joking along the way and seemingly growing taller & taller & taller!
From when you & Lucy were a pair of blond haired, chubby cheeked, cheeky gorgees. We/I have loved you like you were part of our/my family. I’ve got pictures of you both throughout your life and since Al & I got together we four loved you because they (Al and Freyja) too had been hanging out with you, for them, since before you were born!
I always wanted pictures (much to the annoyance of you all-so sorry) of you & your sisters with Lucy & Freyja a little gang together always seemingly happy/easy in each other’s company like cousins & I have many of those pictures. The last time we saw you was at Easter picnic-ing, as we’ve all done together many times, in the private park. I’ve got pictures of you & your sisters from that afternoon too in a sort of pile of limbs all together. I am so devastated you’re gone, but so proud of the young man you were becoming, listening at New Years to your plans to become a pilot. We will miss you Dylbot but thank you for all you gave us and the fun and affection you offered us all.
With a heart full of love, Charlotte xx
Dear Dylan, you were the most lovely baby, chubby and smiling and we spent so, so many good times with you and your family, loads of games and huge bundles, a big pile of happy kids and a very excited Dave the Dog who charged around the house with us all, he loved you, we all loved you.
I cannot express the happy memories I have of those times, and how you all gave us an anchor when times were hard. You would run up and jump on me as soon as the door was open and you showed so much love and joy and it wasn’t long before you were just a little (!) too big and I started dreaded standing by you as you started to tower over me, though you clearly loved it! One minute we’re playing baby war with Freyja and you as the guns with you both laughing away and the next thing I know you’re thrashing me at arm wrestling , (you git), you’re sipping a pint and we all see you have become a really wonderful young man who’s going to fly so high.
I’m just so devastated you’re not here now, I loved you so much, I never had a son, but if I had he would have been you x
Dylan was the big brother I always wanted, even though he was slightly younger and he’d admit, a bit less sensible, Dylan always had my back and put those he loved first. Growing up with him was never a dull moment, every time we’d meet up from being babies till now, it would always be fun.
We used to put on the ‘sticky feet circus’ show when we were younger after realising we could climb up the centre of the doorway at his house if we took off our socks and had clamy hands. We’d spend hours just climbing up and down the doorway, trying to entertain our parents- leaving footprints up the walls as we went. I don’t think any tricks were involved but we thought it was so cool that we could do that.
Hide and seek was always fun with Dylan, Evie, Liv and Lucy; we could spend ages hiding in cupboards and under beds, and even though we’d run out of good places to hide we’d still carried on. I remember one particular time Dylan decided to hide behind a curtain in his room and we spent hours looking for him–I don’t know how we didn’t spot his feet but he was always determined to win and thought of the best places we wouldn’t expect.
Dylan always had a habit of bringing the fun side of people out, even when they were sad, he could make them happy. As we got older this trait always stuck with him- even though he’d sometimes say things you wouldn’t expect, you couldn’t deny that when you were around him, everything seemed amazing because he was always so positive in everything he did.
Two years ago at the jazz festival, I remember it was a Sunday and the last act was on and even though everyone was up and dancing, we decided to lie down and just talk. We talked about the future and how Dylan wanted to be a pilot so badly, but didn’t know how he’d have a family and a partner with such a busy job. Not many 16 year old men think about their future and instantly their minds go to prioritising a family over a job, but Dylan was different.
At Charlotte and al’s wedding, all the teenagers including Dylan, decided to go into the garden outside with a bottle of wine between us (sorry parents who didn’t know… ) and play truth or dare. Of course Dylan was always the daredevil of the group and proceeded to do handstands and attempted back flips, never picking truth once. We all took a Polaroid together and I’m glad I still have it.
We always agreed that we’d be at each others weddings no matter what, and having the only constant person throughout my life gone has broken my heart. I have so many more full of fun and laughter, I could go on forever, I just wish we could have made more. Dylan was the best person I have ever met, there is no one like, and I’m happy to have had had the pleasure of growing up with him.
All my love to Kerrie, Ben, Evie and Liv xx
Dear Kerrie, Ben, Evie, Liv and the Holland and Harpwood families,
My most vivid memory of Dylan is of the first time I met him as a new born, in Kerrie and Bens living room. I noticed Kerrie and Ben often drifting out of the conversation, looking over at tiny Dylan, completely absorbed in the moment, experiencing the almost overwhelming new kind of love that comes with being a parent.
Back then it was hard to imagine what kind of person Dylan was going to grow up to be. It should have been obvious really; surrounded by wonderful and loving parents, sisters, family and friends he grew up to be an intelligent, funny, imaginative and loving boy.
Even harder to imagine is that Dylan’s journey in this life has come to an end. I hope that all your wonderful memories of him help to heal you now, and in the future.
All my love
Lovell
XXX
Dear Kerrie, Ben, Evie, Liv and the Holland and Harpwood families,
My most vivid memory of Dylan is of the first time I met him as a new born, in Kerrie and Bens living room. I noticed Kerrie and Ben often drifting out of the conversation, looking over at tiny Dylan, completely absorbed in the moment, experiencing the almost overwhelming new kind of love that comes with being a parent.
Back then it was hard to imagine what kind of person Dylan was going to grow up to be. It should have been obvious really; surrounded by wonderful and loving parents, sisters, family and friends he grew up to be an intelligent, funny, imaginative and loving boy.
Even harder to imagine is that Dylan’s journey in this life has come to an end. I
hope that all your wonderful memories of him help to heal you now, and in the future.
All my love
Lovell
XXX
Dylan was the big brother I always wanted, even though he was slightly younger and he’d admit, a bit less sensible, Dylan always had my back and put those he loved first. Growing up with him was never a dull moment, every time we’d meet up from being babies till now, it would always be fun.
We used to put on the ‘sticky feet circus’ show when we were younger after realising we could climb up the centre of the doorway at his house if we took off our socks and had clamy hands. We’d spend hours just climbing up and down the doorway, trying to entertain our parents- leaving footprints up the walls as we went. I don’t think any tricks were involved but we thought it was so cool that we could do that.
Hide and seek was always fun with Dylan, Evie, Liv and Lucy; we could spend ages hiding in cupboards and under beds, and even though we’d run out of good places to hide we’d still carried on. I remember one particular time Dylan decided to hide behind a curtain in his room and we spent hours looking for him–I don’t know how we didn’t spot his feet but he was always determined to win and thought of the best places we wouldn’t expect.
Dylan always had a habit of bringing the fun side of people out, even when they were sad, he could make them happy. As we got older this trait always stuck with him- even though he’d sometimes say things you wouldn’t expect, you couldn’t deny that when you were around him, everything seemed amazing because he was always so positive in everything he did.
Two years ago at the jazz festival, I remember it was a Sunday and the last act was on and even though everyone was up and dancing, we decided to lie down and just talk. We talked about the future and how Dylan wanted to be a pilot so badly, but didn’t know how he’d have a family and a partner with such a busy job. Not many 16 year old men think about their future and instantly their minds go to prioritising a family over a job, but Dylan was different.
At Charlotte and al’s wedding, all the teenagers including Dylan, decided to go into the garden outside with a bottle of wine between us (sorry parents who didn’t know… ) and play truth or dare. Of course Dylan was always the daredevil of the group and proceeded to do handstands and attempted back flips, never picking truth once. We all took a Polaroid together and I’m glad I still have it.
We always agreed that we’d be at each others weddings no matter what, and having the only constant person throughout my life gone has broken my heart. I have so many more full of fun and laughter, I could go on forever, I just wish we could have made more.
To the best person I know and had the pleasure to grow up with, I love you.
Dear Kerry, Ben, Evie and Liv,
I am so sorry to hear your devastating news. I haven’t seen any of you for sometime but have fond and warm memories of times spent together on those occasions when we met as families. Your family was a welcoming presence in my life when I had children and I have fond memories of trips to the park and stay and play with Ben and Liv and occasionally with Kerry, Evie and Dylan too. I didn’t know Dylan as he grew but my memories are of a lovely caring and funny big brother. My heart goes to you as you have to live through this heartache. You are loved by those close to you and those of us further away.
Laura, Nathan, Sylvie and Nancy xxxx