Hundreds of mourners gather for funeral of jockey Jan Wilson

Miss Wilson’s parents Margaret and Drew welcomed friends and mourners before the service began.

A jockey’s helmet was placed on her coffin at the front of the church as mourners arrived.

Miss Wilson was on her way to a professional career after she won her first race in April on the horse Imperial Sword at Ripon racecourse in Yorkshire.

Her last win - and her first win in Scotland - was at Ayr racecourse on August 8, Mrs Wilson said before the service.

The Rev Brian Ramsay, minister for the Rescobie parish where the family home is, led today’s service.

Some mourners wore red and black - the racing colours that Miss Wilson wore during her short professional career.

A red and black saddle was also placed on the coffin, while a screen at the front of the church showed pictures of Miss Wilson throughout her life.

Mr Wilson, who wore a red shirt and red tie for the funeral, held his wife’s hand as they walked down the aisle before Mr Ramsay began the half-hour service.

Miss Wilson’s birth had brought “love, joy and laughter” to the family home, Mr Ramsay said.

“That precious life has ended far, far too soon.

“But today we should not dwell on the tragic end of Jan’s life but upon what she achieved and all she brought into the lives of those of us who knew and loved her.”

“Our thoughts and our prayers are also with Jamie and his family,” he added.

Mr Ramsay said Miss Wilson’s parents showed him many letters and cards before the service which paid tribute to, and remembered, her.

“Although Jan’s life was all too short, it was one marked by achievement, friendship, love and, by all accounts, a great deal of laughter,” he said.

Mr Ramsay also said Miss Wilson got a Shetland pony for Christmas when she was nine-years-old but it was a “bit too strong for her”.

He said she was determined to be a jockey “from a very early age”.

She attended the British Racing School in Newmarket and “passed with flying colours”.

Mr Ramsay added: “Today, at the end of her life she’s there in her racing colours with her very favourite brown boots.”

A passage Miss Wilson wrote on her Bebo website page was reproduced in the order of service handed out at the funeral.

She said her ambition was “to be a successful jockey and do my best at everything I do in life”.

When Miss Wilson died she was based in Maunby House stables in Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

David Barron, who was training Miss Wilson as an apprentice at the stables, said: “For a girl apprentice to ride three wins in her first season as a professional is a big achievement.

“She achieved so much in far too short a career.”

Her trainer before Mr Barron, Paul Murphy - based in Leyburn Stables, North Yorkshire - said he “never ever had any bad times with Jan”.

Mr Murphy went on: “Jan was one of the most delightful, loveable, persistent girls I’ve ever seen in my life.

“From the minute she walked into the yard we all started laughing, and we laughed to the day Jan left.

“Jan never, ever got upset when you gave her advice.”

When Miss Wilson won at Ripon, Mr Murphy said: “It was the proudest day of my life in racing and always will be.”

Finishing the service, Rev Ramsay said Miss Wilson was “a role model”, was “thoughtful and caring” and helped disabled riders.

“There have been a lot of tears shed. There will continue to be a lot of tears shed over Jan.

“But the memory of that wonderful smile will never fade.”

Mr Ramsay said the Jockey Jan Memorial Fund, which had been set up since her death, will help other young people follow their dreams and will support groups and clubs that had helped Miss Wilson during her life.

After the service Reverend Karen Fenwick, the minister for Lowson Memorial Parish Church, said: “We had capacity for 700 people. I think we had more than 600 people here today.”

Six people are believed to have been in the flats in Buckrose Court when the fire that killed Miss Wilson broke out at about 2.15am.

Earlier that night the apprentice jockeys were celebrating receiving their “pool money” from a local trainer.

Mr Kyne and Miss Wilson were on the second floor, along with their friend Ian Brennan, who is also an apprentice but who jumped to safety.

A fourth person in the block, Irish apprentice jockey Dean Pratt, was taken to York District Hospital and treated for burns and smoke inhalation.

A man in his 30s was arrested by North Yorkshire Police in connection with the blaze and is on police bail.

On Thursday last week hundreds of mourners packed St Leonard and St Mary’s Roman Catholic church in Malton, North Yorkshire, for the funeral mass of Mr Kyne.

After the service in Forfar, Miss Wilson’s coffin was taken by hearse to Parkgrove Crematorium in Friockheim, Arbroath.