James Banks funeral brings tears of sadness and laughter to packed out church

There were tears and there was laughter. That came as no surprise. This was the final goodbye to James Byron Banks, so those tears were inevitable. Given the way Banks lived his life, there was always bound to be laughter as well.

It was a life that ended sooner than it should have done. Banks was found at his home in Naunton, Gloucestershire, on the morning of February 3. He had chosen the time to check out, but although that ensured there was an additional layer of sadness at his funeral thanksgiving service, the huge number of people who turned out on a rainy afternoon in Wiltshire highlighted how much love the former jockey had generated in his 36 years.

James Banks' coffin arrives at St Mary's ChurchCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I have no more answers and just as many questions," said Reverend Sandy Railton as she began her address in St Mary's Church, to which Banks had travelled in a carriage pulled by two beautiful black horses. Their precious cargo was a coffin, not brown and sombre but adorned from top to toe with a photograph of Banks in silks, a jockey then, a jockey now.

Awaiting his arrival on market day in Marlborough were six pallbearers, there for a lost friend and there for each other.

Nick Hooper, Kevin Hawkins, Brendan Powell jnr and grieving brother Ryan Banks carried the coffin on their shoulders, while doing the same at the front were Tom Garner and Liam Treadwell. Garner had one hand on the coffin and the other around Treadwell's shoulder. On a day when the weighing room mourned, it was a touching image that summed up the remarkable bond shared by members of that remarkable community.

James Banks with colleagues (left to right) Richard Johnson, Nico de Boinville and Tom Scudamore at Chepstow on his retirement two years agoCredit: Harry Trump

With the family and loved ones at the front of her congregation, Railton said prayers, introduced two hymns and read out words that had been penned by some of those who knew Banks best. Garner knew him very well indeed and had written about them being asked to take part in the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations.

"True to form, not just content with meeting the Queen, James also managed to make her laugh," said Garner. That made everyone laugh. So did parts of Ryan Banks' tribute, in which it was made very clear his brother had not lived frugally on the intimate friendship front.

"James's life had so many ups and downs, whether it was over a fence or under a sheet," said Ryan, before an even more obviously saucy line left its orator, Reverend Railton, feeling the need to say: "May God forgive me."

A photograph of James Banks is carried into his funeral service at St Mary's Church in MarlboroughCredit: Edward Whitaker

No forgiveness was necessary for what Ryan had then put to paper.

"James would light up any room he walked into," he said. "He was a friend who would pick you up, put his arm around you and put a smile back on your face. He was a joker and a gentleman. James was my brother, my best friend and my idol."

When the service came to an end, the pallbearers carried Banks out of the church, so that he could be given what Railton called "a lap of honour" around the high street.

An idol deserved nothing less.

Any current or former jockey in need of help can obtain support by speaking to the PJA, IJF, or by directly contacting the PJA’s provider of counselling services – Sporting Chance – directly on 0778 000 8877, while anyone else in racing should call Racing Welfare on 0800 6300 443. Alternatively, call The Samaritans on 116 123.