Derbyshire Funeral Videographer: The Pirate‑Themed Funeral of “Captain” Kori Stovell
A Derbyshire funeral like no other
Last Friday was a deeply moving day in Derbyshire, as hundreds of people lined the streets of Ripley to say goodbye to an incredible young boy: Kori Stovell, known to so many as “Captain” Kori.
At just 11 years old, Kori had built a remarkable online community through his YouTube channel, sharing his life with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, two heart transplants, and an extraordinary spirit that touched thousands of people around the world.
As a Derbyshire funeral videographer, I was asked to film his funeral at All Saints Church, Ripley, creating a lasting record for his family, friends, and followers.
If you’re looking for help with a funeral in the East Midlands, my Derbyshire funeral streaming and funeral videography page explains how I work across the county and beyond.
A life that inspired thousands
Kori’s story had already reached far beyond Derbyshire. Through his channel, he shared both the everyday and the difficult parts of his condition – always with humour and an honesty that many people found deeply comforting and inspiring.
He spoke with celebrities including Johnny Depp and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and built an audience of over 200,000 subscribers, many of whom followed his journey closely. For them, and for those who knew him in person, this funeral was more than a local service – it was a moment of farewell for a global community.
A pirate‑themed farewell at All Saints Church, Ripley
Kori loved pirates, and the family wanted his funeral to reflect that.
The service at All Saints Church, Ripley was carefully shaped around a pirate theme, with details in the decorations, outfits and atmosphere that felt true to him rather than like a gimmick.
My role as a funeral videographer was to:
Capture the entrance to the church and the way people gathered in the streets to pay their respects.
Record the service inside – readings, tributes, music and moments of silence.
Show the pirate details that made the day uniquely “Kori”: the touches of costume, the decorations, and the sense of adventure he brought into so many lives.
On my funeral videography examples page, you can see more services like this where the funeral reflects a person’s passions and personality.
Filming for family and for an online community
This wasn’t just a recording for the immediate family – it was also created for the YouTube community who had followed Kori’s journey and supported him over time.
That meant the video needed to:
Feel personal and intimate for those closest to him.
Make sense to viewers who only knew him through his videos.
Be respectful, without exploiting Kori’s story or turning the day into a spectacle.
The final film gives his family a record, while also allowing them to decide how much to share with his wider audience in their own time and on their own terms.
For families thinking about recording or streaming a funeral for distant relatives or online communities, my guide to how funeral live streaming works explains the options from simple recordings to full multi‑camera broadcasts.
A privilege to film
Being asked to film Kori’s funeral was both an honour and a responsibility.
As with every funeral I cover, the priority was to be discreet, compassionate and quietly present – documenting the day without getting in the way of those who were there to grieve and remember.
I am very grateful to have played a small part in helping to honour “Captain” Kori Stovell, and to give his family something they can return to when the time feels right.
Derbyshire funeral videography and streaming
This Derbyshire funeral is just one example of the kinds of services I film across the East Midlands and beyond – from small, private gatherings to larger funerals with wider public or online interest.
If you are arranging a funeral in Derbyshire and would like it filmed or live streamed, I can help with:
Church services, crematorium chapels and burial grounds.
Discreet, documentary‑style filming.
Options to keep the video private or share more widely.
You can read more on my Derbyshire funeral live streaming and videography page or contact me directly on 07772 509101 to discuss what might be right for your family.