THE FAMILY of a 20-year-old killed in a car crash today remembered a "gentle giant with a generous heart".

Jonathan Forster, of Parkland Drive, Tadcaster, died instantly in a car crash outside Rufforth on Sunday night.

His family today said their farewells at a service at York Crematorium.

"What can we say about Jonathan that most people don't know already?" said his mother, Delia.

"He was a very funny, caring young man. He was a gentle giant with a generous heart who always had a smile and was always ready with a joke."

Jonathan, a former pupil of Tadcaster Grammar School, was driving a Ford Escort when it was involved in a head-on collision with another car.

He died with friends Rochelle Laverack, 16, from Clifton, and Matthew Fox, 19, from Stutton.

The driver of the other car, Gordon Browne, 70, from Keighley, also died. His wife Hilary, 63, suffered serious injuries.

In a series of thoughts written by his family and friends, mourners heard about a man all remembered as fun-loving and sensitive.

"Outwardly, he was so full of bravado, but inwardly he was one of the most sensitive and thoughtful young men you could hope to meet," said his father, Neil.

"There wasn't a malicious bone in his body. He thought the best of everyone, and usually found it."

His grandmother remembered: "One of his favourite sayings was 'it will be all right, just chill, Gran.'"

Jonathan's coffin was carried into the crematorium to the strains of David Gray's This Year's Love.

Music from one of his favourite bands, The Stereophonics, was also played.

His mother remembered: "His youthful embarrassment of being seen out with his mum evaporated when he started work.

"He was often seen doing a wheely down the aisle of Tescos doing the shopping for me.

"He was quite simply the sunshine of my life. My love for him is timeless."

- The Evening Press attended Jonathan's funeral with the consent of his family.

Updated: 15:40 Friday, February 01, 2002