Paul O'Grady's funeral was 'jolly' with a eulogy from Julian Clary
Paul O’Grady’s funeral service was ‘moving’ and ‘jolly’ with a eulogy from Julian Clary and a photo of the icon in drag with the quote ‘See you down there’ – and mourners laughed when organ malfunctioned
Paul O’Grady was laid to rest following a ‘moving’ yet ‘jolly’ service which included an ‘entertaining’ eulogy from his friend Julian Clary and some of the icon’s best-loved and most funny TV and radio moments, it was revealed today.
The private funeral for friends, family, loved-ones and stars including Ronnie Wood, Alan Carr and Jo Brand was held at St Rumwold’s Church in the village of Bonnington in Kent on Thursday afternoon.
But despite moments of great poignancy following the star’s sudden death, there were also laughs when clips of Mr O’Grady’s best loved shows and gags were played. The congregation also giggled when the church’s organ went out of tune during a hymn.
The service featured a series of personal tributes to the entertainer, including a bronze statue of his beloved late dog Buster that had been placed on a leopard-print throw.
A photograph of a smiling O’Grady was placed at the front of the Grade I listed parish church surrounded by arrangements of lilies in a nod to his drag alter ego, Lily Savage.
The order of service also featured a photograph of O’Grady dressed in drag with the quote ‘See you down there’, and a picture of the comedian cuddling a baby orangutan. And the coffin left the church to Looking For Trouble by Elvis Presley.
Comedian Julian Clary arriving for the funeral of Paul O’Grady at St Rumwold’s Church in Aldington, Kent. He gave the eulogy
Paul O’Grady’s husband wipes away tears as he leads the funeral procession for the late TV icon
Alan Carr arriving to the funeral of Paul O’Grady at St Rumwold’s Church in Aldington, Kent
O’Grady’s coffin is carried into the 12th century St Rumwold’s Church in Bonnington, Kent. It left the church to Looking For Trouble by Elvis Presley
Paul O’Grady died from cardiac arrhythmia aged 67 last month, shocking fans across Britain and around the world
The Salvation Army Band played songs such as Tomorrow from the musical Annie – in which O’Grady was starring in a touring production at the time of his death. Other musical choices included the theme from British television drama series Upstairs Downstairs and Meditation from the opera Thais by French composer Jules Massenet.
Before the funeral there were tears as O’Grady’s widower Andre Portasio rode atop the hearse drawn by two black horses and decorated with a wreath of their late dog Buster, with one of their other dogs, Conchita, on his lap. The streets were lined with mourners, many with rescue dogs, who formed a guard of honour.
The service was conducted by the Reverend Canon Roger Martin before mourners went to a wake at Port Lympne Safari Park.
Mr Martin welcomed family and friends including comedian Clary, actress Dame Sheila Hancock, and the late Dame Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell.
Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and comedian Alan Carr were also among those attending.
Following the service, Mr Martin told the PA news agency: ‘The mood was very jolly. There were some recordings of Paul, favourite clips, a good selection of varied music, it was lighthearted. It was a moving occasion.’
He also added: ‘It was a very fitting send off.’
The vicar described Clary’s eulogy as ‘very entertaining’, adding: ‘He spoke quite a lot about their stage life together.’
Mr Martin also spoke about the church organ, which has to be pumped by hand, malfunctioning during a hymn, and said they had turned it into a ‘moment of fun’.
Mr Martin, who had known O’Grady since 2011, praised him as ‘community-minded’ and a ‘very humble chap’.
Mourners entered the church to You Gotta Get A Gimmick from the 1993 Bette Midler musical Gypsy.
The service commenced with a reading from actor-turned-Labour peer and LGBT rights activist Lord Cashman and O’Grady’s former PA and agent Joan Marshrons, who read a Woodland Burial.
It also included reflections from Chad Rogers, who produced TV shows Blankety Blank and Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs, about his friendship with O’Grady.
Donations were requested to four causes ‘close to his heart’, including Save The Children UK, the Orangutan Appeal UK, Battersea Dogs And Cats Home, and Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital.
Husband of Paul O’Grady, Andre Portasio, carrying one of their dogs, arriving for the funeral of Paul O’Grady at St Rumwold’s Church in Aldington, Kent
O’Grady’s daughter Sharyn Mousley donned a black face covering as she walked into the service alongside a young man, believed to be the comedian’s only grandson, who was holding a Lily Savage wig
Ronnie Wood and his wife Sally in Aldington, near Ashford, as they say farewell to Paul O’Grady
Dame Sheila Hancock and Lord Michael Cashman arriving for the funeral of Paul O’Grady
Jo Brand and Gaby Roslin arriving for the funeral of Paul O’Grady at St Rumwold’s Church in Aldington
Other famous faces seen saying their goodbyes were comedian Julian Clary, the late Dame Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell (pictured right) and a string of EastEnders actors, including Scott Malsen, Cheryl Fergison and Linda Henry
Ahead of the service, thousands lined the streets to see the procession of nine limousines followed by a cortege including motorbikes that left O’Grady’s home in the nearby village of Aldington.
Children from Aldington Primary School paid their respects with picture collages and drawings of dogs.
O’Grady, who rose to fame as Lily Savage before going on to host a string of television programmes, died ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’ at his home on March 28 at the age of 67.
Born in Birkenhead on the Wirral, Merseyside, he later adopted Kent as his home for more than 20 years.
Hundreds of well wishers holding bouquets of flowers lined the streets to watch the cortege, which travelled from Paul’s home in Adlington to a picturesque 12th century church in nearby Bonnington.
The popular comedian and presenter, who found fame as his drag alter-ego Lily Savage and whose For the Love of Dogs TV show was watched by millions, made his final journey flanked by a ‘dogs guard of honour’.
A floral wreath in the shape of O’Grady’s late pooch Buster, who died from cancer in 2009, was pictured leaning against his coffin as it made its way to the Grade-II listed St Rumwold’s church.
O’Grady’s daughter Sharyn Mousley donned a black face covering as she walked into the service alongside a young man, believed to be the comedian’s grandson, who was holding a Lily Savage wig.
Floral tribute in the shape of O’Grady’s late dog Buster is seen leaning against his coffin as it is carried to the church
Aerial photo shows hundreds of mourners lining the streets for O’Grady’s funeral procession
READ MORE: Paul O’Grady delayed telling doctors he had a heart attack because he ‘didn’t want to bother anybody’, claims Susanna Reid
Three volunteers from from Battersea Cats & Dogs Home stood guard with a black Labrador cross and a pug as the coffin was carried into the ceremony by six pallbearers.
A brass band from the Salvation Army played a series of songs outside, including Tomorrow from the musical Annie.
O’Grady had been touring with a production of the hit show at the time of his passing.
Other famous faces seen saying their goodbyes were comedian Julian Clary, the late Dame Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell and a string of EastEnders actors, including Scott Malsen, Cheryl Fergison and Linda Henry.
Touching notes were left outside the church by loved ones of O’Grady.
His daughter Sharyn wrote: ‘Gongan, we miss you so much, Abel and Halo will never forget you. Your little teddy is with you. I love you.’
Meanwhile a tribute from his ‘heartbroken’ sister Sheila read: ‘Dear Paul, beloved and loved brother, brother-in-law and uncle. Will love, remember and miss you forever. Rest in peace.’
After the funeral, a private event for family and loved-ones is planned at Port Lympne Safari Park, whish is just three miles from Paul’s home and where he loved judging animal competitions.
It is home to many rare and endangered species and the largest breeding herd of black rhinos in the UK, all in the grounds of an Edwardian mansion transformed by late casino mogul John Aspinall, a close friend of Lord Lucan and Sir James Goldsmith.
Alan Carr donned an all black suit and white shirt and sunglasses for the funeral of his late friend Paul O’Grady on Thursday
Melanie Sykes arriving for the funeral of Paul O’Grady at St Rumwold’s Church
Paul O’Grady’s grandson is seen carrying a Lily Savage wig as he arrives for the funeral of the late TV icon
Paul O’Grady’s husband Andre Portasio cuts a sombre figure as he walks into the church for the late comedian’s funeral while holding their beloved dog Conchita
Coronation Street star Sally Lindsay arriving for the funeral of Paul O’Grady at St Rumwold’s Church in Aldington
Ronnie Wood and Eastenders star Scott Malsen arriving for Paul O’Grady’s funeral
Jo Brand (left) and Eastenders star Cheryl Fergison arriving for the funeral of Paul O’Grady at St Rumwold’s Church in Aldington
Ronnie and Sally Wood arriving for the funeral of Paul O’Grady at St Rumwold’s Church in Aldington
Scott Walker and Julian Carey at the funeral of Paul O’Grady on Thursday
The coffin of Paul O’Grady is taken from St Rumwold’s Church in Aldington, Kent, following his funeral service
The coffin of Paul O’Grady is taken from St Rumwold’s Church in Aldington, Kent, following his funeral service
Meanwhile some 300 miles away, hundreds of O’Grady fans gathered in his hometown of Birkenhead, Merseyside, to pay their respects. One video showed dozens of well wishers bursting into a one-minute round of applause to ‘celebrate his life.’
Hours before the funeral, owners with dogs from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, where the 11 series of his award-winning ITV show For The Love Of Dogs were set, arrived in Aldington to say farewell to the star.
More than £270,000 has been raised for the charity since his death from a cardiac arrhythmia on March 28.
O’Grady became an ambassador for the animal charity in 2012 and rehomed five dogs while filming the show Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs.
One of the Battersea Dogs Home workers attending O’Grady’s funeral spoke of his ‘kindness and genuine love of animals’ as she brought along her own pet to stand in the canine ‘Guard of Honour’ for the comedian.
O’Grady’s coffin is carried into the Grade-II listed St Rumwold’s Church in Bonnington, Kent
Paul O’Grady’s husband (pictured right holding their beloved dog) was visibly emotional as he led mourners to the late comedian’s funeral following his sudden death aged 67 last month
The funeral cortege of Paul O’Grady travels through the village of Aldington, Kent
Julian Clarey is seen arriving at the church at the Funeral of Paul O’Grady on April 20, 2023
Lisa Porter, 36, who works at the home’s Old Windsor branch, said she had met O’Grady a few years ago and appeared on his dog programme with him when he was helping to rehome two dachshunds.
‘He was so genuine, and although you’re nervous about meeting a celebrity, he was one of those people who immediately puts you at ease,’ Lisa recalled to MailOnline.
‘He was so easy-going and good with dogs and didn’t mind them jumping up and slobbering all over him! Everyone at Battersea, Old Windsor and our Brands Hatch branch will miss him so much.’
Lisa brought along Elsie, her two-year-old yellow Labrador as part of the guard of honour. Elsie, who Lisa adopted as a rescue dog from Battersea as a puppy, was wearing a blue coat, carrying Battersea’s emblem.
Also forming the guard of honour was Amy Hollyhead, 32, from the Brands Hatch branch, with her own dog Digby, a two-year-old Shih tzu.
‘Paul was a real pro,’ said Amy, ‘But you could tell he wasn’t just playing a part – he was a dog-lover through and through.’
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