FOUR white doves were set to be released over the Acomb area of York today as a community said farewell to tragic schoolboy Sean Hamilton.

Classmates of the ten-year-old, who was killed in a road crash on Holgate Road nearly two weeks ago, have chosen the hymns and written the bidding prayers for the funeral mass at Our Lady’s Church in Gale Lane, which was expected to be filled with hundreds of mourners including his family, friends, and teammates and others from his rugby club.

Our Lady’s RC School was expected to be almost deserted after most parents responded to a request from its headteacher Derek Sutherland, to take their children home at lunchtime so that teachers and other members of staff could join members of Sean’s class at the service.

“I hope more than anything else, it will be a time of peace and reflection,” said Sean’s parish priest, Father Pat Smith, who was to lead the mass. The service was to include a Powerpoint presentation of pictures of Sean at the beginning and conclude with members of his family releasing four white doves from the church’s garden.

Among a long list of hymns was Sean’s favourite, Shine Jesus Shine, to be accompanied by organist Jean Gargan who knew the young rugby league fan.

Mr Sutherland, who was to accompany the other the hymns on his guitar and read the first lesson from Revelations, revealed the Hamilton family asked the school to choose the hymns and write the bidding prayers.

The school responded by choosing Sean’s favourites. “We feel very honoured and touched,” he said. “Sean was such a part of the life of the school. He is definitely and sadly missed.

“His family have our deep heartfelt sympathy. We can never understand their pain.”

He thanked the parents who had made it possible for so many of the school to attend the mass and had supported it since Sean’s death.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash on October 3 in which Sean died as he was returning home from a trip to the cinema.

Five local men have been arrested and released on bail.