Tribute to Katie and Kayleigh

During the first service, The Reverend Jackie Carter read eulogies for Danielle Caswell and Louise Jones, beginning with a description of the four friends.

I want you to imagine for a moment, that you walk into a room and the room is empty except for a beautiful tapestry hanging on the wall.

It is so striking that you cannot take your eyes away from it.

As you look at this tapestry, you are aware that there are four characters, four young girls, four friends, all very different, but as you look at the picture, there is a balance and flow highlighting the beauty of the picture.

You notice the rich colours and the beautiful silks that have been used. Each stitch carefully, delicately and painstakingly worked and as you look you wonder and want to look deep into the lives of the girls.

You are taken by their beauty, their usefulness and the joy on their faces and want to know more about them. And now we're going to know just that.

Mourners heard Danielle always looked out for her brother Jonathan

We're going to take a brief glimpse at the lives of two of the girls in the picture: Danielle and Louise.

Let me tell you about Danielle, and weave her story into the picture.

From the moment she was born there was something special about Danielle. She was a happy, contented baby who grew into a very sensitive child with a vivid imagination, happy to play on her own.

Danielle loved soft toys and as a toddler on a visit to Toys R Us she chose a doll, Tiny Baby, much bigger than her at the time, which she outgrew but always cherished.

Alf, an alien, her special toy went with her wherever she went as did her imaginary friend Bennett, who used to sit at the table with the family and also accompany her on family outings.

One day returning home from shopping, Bennett was left outside in the car and Danielle was distraught and would not settle until he too was safely in the house.

Louise Jones' talents lay in sport, drama and singing

As Danielle was growing up she also developed a talent and love of dancing and drama, at one time with Mirror Image Dancers, she was also good at gymnastics and was a member of the Heads of the Valley Swimming Club.

When Jonathan came along, the family was complete. Danielle and Jonathan became very close and often shared each other's secrets.

There was always a friendly banter between them and when Jonathan started in the comprehensive, he settled in very easily because he already knew all Danielle's friends.

It was a standing joke that Jonathan had three parents because Danielle was always there to look out for him.

Although very sociable, Danielle could also be a very private person. She loved her own space and would be content to stay in her bedroom. It was always full of music. She was always singing.

She also had a reputation for 'blonde moments', you all know what I mean, she was always falling down, she would trip over anything however large or small.

She was the only person who had the reputation for tripping over nothing.

Out of a litter of seven beautiful fluffy kittens, Danielle picked the smallest scrawniest one out of the box. The ugly duckling of the litter.

She always loved to do girly things and was doted on by the family, especially her Uncle Steve, who she looked upon as her older brother.

With the Christ Church packed, mourners gather outside

Now let me give you a glimpse of Louise.

Louise was the youngest of three, she had two older brothers, Terry Jones Jnr, and Christopher.

From an early age, she mixed and was comfortable with people of all ages. Her grandmother, although confined to a wheelchair, was often seen giving Louise a ride on her lap.

Terry and Christopher were members of the Crickhowell and Gilwern Athletics Club and Louise and Terry and Georgina would accompany the boys to sports events.

No doubt it was during these family outings that Louise developed her love of sport at which she then excelled. Although she was good at many events, she always preferred the javelin and had a very powerful throw.

But as she grew up, it soon became evident that her talents lay in drama and singing.

She was the sort of young person that filled the room. She had that incredible stage presence that said 'hey, here I am'.

In Lanzarote, at the age of seven, Louise could hold her own with many seasoned entertainers, singing confidently to the delight of the audience.

Her love of singing and drama led her to become a member of the Blaenau Gwent Young Stars and Ebbw Vale Operatic Society.

From an early age, Louise loved to help Terry out in their fruit and vegetable shops in Blackwood and Porthcawl and was used to mixing with the customers.

Louise was one of those people who could not only sing and perform well and in any situation, but also had a rare understanding of people. She never saw age as a barrier, but responded to people.

I have to be honest, I cannot do justice to either Danielle or Louise as I have only slightly touched on their lives. I have been upstaged by the young people at school, with their tributes so lovingly placed at the school gates and a website dedicated to the girls. The Reverend Jackie Carter

For example, her brother's children did not treat her as an aunt but rather as an older sister and the girls loved spending time talking about the latest fashion in clothes or trying new types of make up.

Both Danielle and Louise enjoyed the safety and security of close-knit, loving, caring families.

Louise's ambition was to become a doctor, but she loved singing so much that she wanted to have a recording career and only recently started to have her voice trained.

Danielle was also ambitious and wanted to do well at school.

I have to be honest, I cannot do justice to either Danielle or Louise as I have only slightly touched on their lives.

I have been upstaged by the young people at school, with their tributes so lovingly placed at the school gates and a website dedicated to the girls.

I'd like to draw us back to the picture in the tapestry, showing four young friends, all unique, different in many ways but similar in others.

And as each of us over the next days, weeks, months and years will remember Danielle, Louise, Kayleigh and Katie, all of our memories will be individual and personal and our lives will be richer for having known them, touched them and laughed with them.