Mourners dress as superheroes for funeral of 18-year-old comic book fan who took his life after years of bullying
Teenager Arthur Peebles killed himself after years of bullying - but always found "solace" in superhero world
A TRAGIC teenage comic book fan who killed himself after being bullied was given a fitting send off with a superhero-themed funeral.
Mourners donned capes, masks and plastic props in a heartfelt final tribute to Arthur Peeble who died on November 1 after years of bullying and mental health problems.
Heartbroken relatives said the 18-year-old found solace in comic book characters, such as Superman and Spiderman, as well as Toy Story's Buzz and Woody.
This inspired his mother, Jacqueline Peebles, to organise a special funeral in recognition of her only son's passion.
Ms Peebles said: "Arthur had enough doom and gloom going on in his head during his little life, and I thought 'I'm not sending him away with doom and gloom too'.
"He loved his superheroes - that was his world."
His mother arrived at the service in Morden, South London, dressed as She Hulk, while other characters included Batman and Captain America.
A little levity was provided when members of the family spotted one late arrival, struggling up the driveway in a large Buzz Lightyear costume.
The coffin was decorated with the Superman logo, while the service also featured an extract from Iron Giant, Arthur's favourite film.
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Arthur was a superhero to us and we wanted to give him the send-off he deserves."
Jacqueline Peebles
Music included See You Again by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth, and I'll Be Missing You by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans.
Ms Peebles, who released doves in her son's name, said Arthur was "a pure soul" who was loved by his friends for his wit and intellect.
But she said that his slight build and gentle nature made him a soft target for bullies.
Thugs targeted him at the age of five, tying a noose to a tree and threatening to hang him.
Arthur was a former student of Guildford College which said it was "deeply saddened" following his death.
Friend Jessica Knapman, 18, told : "He was cheery, always trying to make people laugh.
"He could never take things seriously, and he would make a joke out of everything - a funny, smart guy."
Ms Peebles said she hoped Arthur's death at the age of 18 would raise awareness of bullying and prompt authorities and parents to take greater action.
She said: "He was never one for conflict. He never drank alcohol, fizzy, tea or coffee, only water which he said was 'brain juice'. He's never been to a pub, a club, experienced anything with a woman - he died a virgin, a pure soul.
"Like many children, Arthur was a victim to bullying from a young age. He suffered from mental health problems which resulted in him tragically taking his own life.
"We want his funeral to raise awareness of mental health issues to ensure that young people like Arthur get access to the support they need.
"Arthur was my superhero and now I'm going to drive this forwards and be his."
The Sun's current Block The Bullying campaign aims to educate young people about why filming and sharing attacks on social media can be just as damaging to a child as the actual physical assault.
We are also telling teens what to do if they see a bullying video on social media, how parents should react if their child is a victim and .
Finally we are calling on social media channels to take down any videos showing the bullying of children as soon as they become aware of them.
Do you need help? Contact The Samaritans on 116 123 or visit .