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Friends and family gathered to farewell Pip Manley in Maitland yesterday.
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There was standing room only at Real Life Church as more than 350 people remembered and celebrated their mate, Pip, the avid dancer, music fan and friend.
Mr Manley’s parents, Mary and Jonathon, as well as younger brother Giles, recalled fond memories in front of the congregation.
Real Life Church pastor Grant Atherton officiated the ceremony and donations were collected for Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off The Streets charity.
Shannon Barsby travelled from Bathurst to Maitland this week to farewell his friend.
Mr Barsby said the service was beautiful and he expected a large number of people in attendance, because Pip had touched so many lives.
He said he was proud of Mr Manley’s brother Giles, who performed Eric Clapton song Tears In Heaven on the keyboard.
“The most touching part was when they played a YouTube clip of Pip dancing, because he loved to dance,” he said.
Mr Barsby said he met Mr Manley through mutual friends a couple of years ago and they immediately hit it off, often dancing at clubs together.
“He could get up on the stage and dance for hours on end. He was always smiling,” he said. “He used to talk to me about everything.
“He wasn’t the sort of person to dislike people. He gave everyone the benefit of the doubt. He was always like the middle man or peace keeper. I want him to be remembered as the bubbly person he was.”
Mr Manley died from an unknown cause in Lorn in November while walking home to Bolwarra Heights.
He was missing until police found his body on January 29.
