College bids final farewell to Kidderminster lecturer who died of Covid

A funeral was held at Wyre Forest Crematorium for Dave Chipp after the hearse passed by Kidderminster College, where he worked teaching computer games.

Due to Covid restrictions, only 20 close family and friends were allowed at the funeral service, however dozens of people lined the street outside his old college to pay their respects.

Kidderminster College lecturer Dave Chipp died of Covid at age 37

Dave was wheelchair-bound with muscular dystrophy, but best friend Louise Hill said he had "years and years in front of him".

He passed away at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in February.

A fundraising page set up by Louise to raise £500 for Muscular Dystrophy UK ended up collecting £2,500 in the two weeks after Dave's death.

Louise said: "One of Dave's old work colleagues asked for the coffin to go past the college where he worked and they got special permission. Apparently over 100 students and staff turned up to line the streets.

Louise and Dave

"The funeral was perfect, the celebrant Stuart Crompton and Co-op Funeral Directors were brilliant. Myself and two of Dave's other best friends did eulogies.

"I mentioned three comments from people after the story about Dave's death in The Shuttle that really touched me.

"An ex-student told me that it was because of Dave that he worked his way to a really high up position in IT. He said if it hadn't been for Dave's encouragement, he never would have done it.

"The amount of kind comments we got from his students was amazing. I wouldn't have known that side of him if it weren't for all those people's comments. It was a big comfort to his mum as well."

Dave and Louise at a Spice Girls concert

Paying tribute to Dave, Louise described him as an "amazing, inspirational, wonderful and absolutely hilarious friend".

People can still donate to the fundraising page online at gofundme.com/f/raising-money-in-memory-of-my-lovely-friend-dave.