FAREWELL: Jesse Bucknell's partner Ashleigh McAuley (left) holding her and Jesse's son Carter, her mother Diane McAuley and Jesse's mother Ruth Bucknell. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA
FAREWELL: Jesse Bucknell's partner Ashleigh McAuley (left) holding her and Jesse's son Carter, her mother Diane McAuley and Jesse's mother Ruth Bucknell. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA
Close to 800 mourners farewelled former world class athlete Jesse Bucknell at a funeral service at Wairarapa College yesterday, as ranks of hometown cyclists trailed the hearse carrying him from the grounds of his old school.
Jesse, 27, was killed a week ago when a truck he was driving leftMarine Parade near Napier and struck a large tree. Bystanders and paramedics had fought to save his life but he died at the scene, leaving behind his partner Ashleigh McAuley and his infant son, Carter.
His partner and son, who were living with him in a house the couple built near Napier, were joined by his Masterton parents Cliff and Ruth Bucknell, Ms McAuley's parents Colin and Diane McAuley, his brothers Rueben, Dominic and Marcus, and close to 800 mourners at a funeral service at Wairarapa College yesterday.
Jesse had magnetised to himself a wide circle of friends throughout his life and many tributes were made to his irrepressible vitality and outstanding athletic prowess, which had led to his selection for the New Zealand triathlete squad in 2006, and 17th place in his age grade at the ITU World Championships in Switzerland that year.
Close mates yesterday saluted Jesse with a rousing haka as pallbearers carried him from the school hall, before a mass of black and yellow balloons were released and cinema popcorn laid as tributes on his casket before the hearse carried him from the grounds.
