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Camerons bid farewell to Ivan with a celebration of life

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His face wearing a beaming smile is the way David and Samantha Cameron will want to remember their "beautiful boy". And on Wednesday the grieving couple released this vital image of their elder son Ivan, who passed away on February 25, to coincide with his funeral.

Songs, poems and stories formed part of the service in a church close to the Conservative leader's Oxfordshire home.

Most poignant was an extract from the six-year-old's favourite book, Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.

It tells the story of Max, a little boy sent to bed for misbehaving who then imagines sailing to a land where wild creatures make him their king – though he decides to return home to his family and finds a hot supper waiting. Friends said he played the lead character in a school production.

A gospel choir also sang a version of the song You Are So Beautiful To Me and hymns included Morning Has Broken, which moved many in the congregation to tears.

Only close friends, family and medical staff who cared for Ivan attended the memorial. In keeping with the couple's wishes no one wore black. They themselves wore navy blue; Mr Cameron's dark suit was brightened with a mustard yellow tie, while his wife had on a bright red scarf.

The little boy, who was born with cerebral palsy, died in hospital at 6.30am on February 25 after a seizure.

Photo: Alpha
On Wednesday the Conservative leader and his wife paid tribute to the child who brought them such joy in his short life by organising a funeral service filled with love
Photo: Alpha
Holding hands as they arrived at a church near their Oxfordshire home, David and Samantha Cameron had arranged a celebration of six-year-old Ivan's zest for life

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