FRIENDS and family are set to say their final farewells to talented horsewoman Ella Pall-ister at her funeral service on Friday.

The Thomas Hardye school sixth former died from injuries suffered in a horseriding accident in a show jumping event at Kingston Maurward College in January.

Seventeen year old Ella, who lived in Portesham, was taking part in a British Show Jumping Association (BSJA) event when the accident happened.

Her family have thanked everyone for their support and said that all are welcome to the funeral service at St Peter’s Church in Portesham on Friday February 15.

Mum Karen Pallister said: “Our thanks to everyone for their kind messages of support. Everyone has been really nice.”

Ella’s funeral service will take place at St Peter’s Church at 2pm followed by a private cremation.

Her family say that formal clothing will not be necessary and that people can attend dressed as Ella would have known them.

Flowers can be sent or donations can be made to be split between the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and the Wessex Neurological Centre at Southampton General Hospital.

Ella was taken by a land ambulance to the Dorset County Hospital (DCH) after the accident. A waiting Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance flew her to Southampton hospital but she later died of her injuries there.

Ella was studying PE and business A-levels at Thomas Hardye and a BTEC in animal science at Kingston Maurward.

Her parents Karen and Ted Pallister have paid tribute to Ella as their ‘shining star’ and hailed her love of horse riding and winning competitions.

Ella’s boyfriend Sam Edwards also paid tribute to her as a beautiful, bright and energetic person who will never be able to be replaced.

Ella, whose horse was Cocoon II, was a talented horsewoman who was a member of the Thomas Hardye School equestrian team.

Late last year she was in the school team which was sixth in the National School Equestrian Association’s annual show-jumping finals at Addington Manor, near Milton Keynes.

School friends are among those set to attend the funeral service but the school choir will also be performing.

Thomas Hardye head Michael Foley said: “All students who want to go will be able to. It will mostly be sixth formers. Ella had a wide circle of friends.” He added that the school hope to be able to let as many staff attend as wanted to go.

Donations in Ella’s memory can be sent to Rose Funeral Service, 35 Shrubbery Lane, Wyke Regis, DT4 9LY with cheques made payable to Funeral Donations Account. Call Rose Funeral Service on 01305 785832 or email info@rose-funeral.co.uk for more details.