JohnCenaFan28
03-10-2009, 12:09 AM
More than 100 EastEnders stars past and present have been reunited in a tearful farewell to "icon for ordinary folk" Wendy Richard.
Barbara Windsor, Todd Carty and Paul O'Grady joined legions of well-wishers from the world of showbusiness at her funeral.
In a "beautiful and funny" service, mourners - who were given an order of service which included Richard's favourite chilli con carne recipe - paid tribute to the star, best known for playing cardigan-wearing matriarch Pauline Fowler.
Fans of the actress - who also played Miss Brahms in the hit sitcom Are You Being Served? - lined the streets outside St Marylebone Parish Church.
Richard, 65, died last month at the Harley Street Clinic in London after a lengthy battle with cancer with her husband, John Burns, by her side.
Speaking afterwards, Ian Lavender, the former Dad's Army star who also featured alongside her in the long-running London-based drama, said she was an "ordinary icon - a great icon for ordinary folk".
He added: "It was a beautiful and funny service. I just remember all the good things and the black humour. She had a very acerbic sense of humour.
"Sometimes you would have to tell her 'I am not listening to this' but she would eventually overwhelm you with her charm. She was a great woman and I am honoured to have spoken today."
Actors Carty, Lavender and Trevor Bannister all gave readings at St Marylebone Parish Church, central London, before In The Mood by Glenn Miller and the 1960s hit Spirit In The Sky were heard blaring out loudspeakers.
Richard was awarded the MBE for services to television in 2000 and in 2007 she was awarded a British Soap Award for Lifetime Achievement for her role in EastEnders.
-Nova
Barbara Windsor, Todd Carty and Paul O'Grady joined legions of well-wishers from the world of showbusiness at her funeral.
In a "beautiful and funny" service, mourners - who were given an order of service which included Richard's favourite chilli con carne recipe - paid tribute to the star, best known for playing cardigan-wearing matriarch Pauline Fowler.
Fans of the actress - who also played Miss Brahms in the hit sitcom Are You Being Served? - lined the streets outside St Marylebone Parish Church.
Richard, 65, died last month at the Harley Street Clinic in London after a lengthy battle with cancer with her husband, John Burns, by her side.
Speaking afterwards, Ian Lavender, the former Dad's Army star who also featured alongside her in the long-running London-based drama, said she was an "ordinary icon - a great icon for ordinary folk".
He added: "It was a beautiful and funny service. I just remember all the good things and the black humour. She had a very acerbic sense of humour.
"Sometimes you would have to tell her 'I am not listening to this' but she would eventually overwhelm you with her charm. She was a great woman and I am honoured to have spoken today."
Actors Carty, Lavender and Trevor Bannister all gave readings at St Marylebone Parish Church, central London, before In The Mood by Glenn Miller and the 1960s hit Spirit In The Sky were heard blaring out loudspeakers.
Richard was awarded the MBE for services to television in 2000 and in 2007 she was awarded a British Soap Award for Lifetime Achievement for her role in EastEnders.
-Nova