Hundreds of mourners have lined the streets of Livingston today for Hope Gordon’s ‘final journey’ as the schoolgirl was laid to rest.
The six-year-old was found dead alongside her 36-year-old dad, Mark, at a house in West Calder on January 20. Police said they were treating her death as murder but that her father’s is “not being treated as suspicious”.
Residents lined the streets to pay tribute to the ‘loving little girl’ on what the family are calling ‘Hope’s Day’. Following a private service at the Co-op Funeralcare on Howden South in Livingston, Hope’s coffin was carried out of the funeral home by tearful family members.
The cortege was then led by a horse-drawn carriage to Adambrae Cemetery. Images from the procession showed two white horses with blue and yellow feathers leading the carriage. Mourners could be seen in tears as the tiny coffin, which was decorated with characters from Hope’s favourite TV show ‘Paw Patrol’, passed by.
Roses were also thrown onto the hearse as it made its way down the road. In a message on social media titled “Hope’s final journey”, Co-op Funeralcare previously revealed the route of the procession.
They 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’s understood the family arrived at Adambrae Cemetery at around 1.15pm. A fundraising page, launched by family friend Melanie Wheeldon to help cover the cost of Hope’s Day, 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.”