A grieving community is set to line a town’s streets today for the final journey of a six-year-old.
Schoolgirl Hope Gordon was found dead alongside her 36-year-old dad, Mark, at a house in West Calder on January 20. Police said they are treating her death as murder but that her father’s is “not being treated as suspicious”.
A private family service is set to take place at Co-op Funeralcare on Howden South, on what her family are calling “Hope’s Day”. The family has called on the community to “line the streets” of Livingston leading to the town’s Adambrae Cemetery as Hope passes by in a horse-drawn carriage.
In a message on social media titled “Hope’s final journey”, Co-op Funeralcare said: “Hope will leave Co-op Funeralcare, Livingston, at approximately 12.45pm making her way to her final resting place. Hope’s family would like to show their appreciation to the community for all their love, support and kindness since their tragic loss and ask those that are able to line the streets leading to Adambrae Cemetery as Hope passes by in her horse-drawn carriage.”
A further message, posted on Friday, laid out the exact route to the cemetery. “We will turn left out of the funeral home, continue up Almondvale East Road, turn right at the mini-roundabout, along Dedridge East Road, continuing straight over the mini roundabout on to Dedridge West Road, left on to Dedridge North Road, over the roundabout in to Adambrae,” it read.
It said they expected to arrive at Adambrae Cemetery at about 1.15pm. A fundraising page, launched by family friend Melanie Wheeldon to help cover the cost of Hope’s Day, has raised more than £10,000 – more than five times its original £2000 target.
In a statement on the page, she said: “On January 20 our hearts shattered as we learned of the tragic and senseless murder of six-year-old Hope. She was a vibrant and loving little girl, known for her infectious smile, kind spirit and deep love for animals.
“Hope’s life was tragically cut short, leaving a void in the hearts of her family and friends that can never be filled.”
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