JAMES Baker’s mum Val urged the congregation to never forget the wonderful memories they have of her “beautiful boy” as hundreds gathered to celebrate his life today.

Mourners packed into All Saints' Church in Lydiard Millicent for the 26-year-old’s funeral, with many spilling outside and into the community hall opposite, where the service was projected.

“James lived for the moment. Sometimes you never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory,” Val said, adding that it was an honour to call him her son.

“All those moments you will all have had with James, now they are hopefully wonderful memories.

“He is now on his next journey. There is no easy way to say goodbye.”

The former Swindon College student, who lived in Westlea, was known to pals as Bakes and Bakeman. He has been hailed an inspiration for his courageous cancer battle and refusal to never let it bring him down.

His death on October 5 in a German hospital, where he was receiving specialist treatment, devastated the town as he was known to so many people.

Throughout the service, photographs of him growing up were played and drew smiles and laughter from the congregation. A poignant poem called Footprints was also read while his coffin was brought into song Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls, with Beautiful War by Kings of Leon being played as it left.

In a touching tribute made by Val, she spoke of how proud he made her. She described the keen sportsman’s infectious laugh and outrageous story-telling ability, as well as daredevil attitude.

She said: “Friends were the most important thing to him. He always made friends wherever he went.”

Val also revealed how he was cheeky as a youngster and even played the role as an angel in his primary school play.

“That definitely wasn’t James,” she joked.

Showing how close James and his family were she recalled how when he went travelling she asked him to keep in touch, but he didn’t always do it at the most convenient of times.

“He took that literally and called me at 2, 3 o’clock in the morning for a chat,” she laughed.

“And when he went on a nights out he would come home in the early hours and jump on my bed.

“One time I decided to get my own back. I got home, jumped on his bed and woke him up and he couldn’t believe it. He text his friends saying he had had a ‘rude awakening.’”

And Val added: “There was a very deep side to James that many people didn’t know. He was not good at showing his emotion but he was very good at writing it down in a song or a story.”

Brother Phil, who also read a tribute during the service, led by Rev Tudor Roberts, described James as his “hero” who always brought fun to whatever he did. He spoke of how his brother’s legacy would be his courage and conviction and even before his death, James was still all smiles.

Phil said: “I don’t think anything was more important to him than people, you people here today.”