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| Final farewell to TV's Magnusson | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The funeral has taken place of writer and broadcaster Magnus Magnusson, who died last week at the age of 77. | The funeral has taken place of writer and broadcaster Magnus Magnusson, who died last week at the age of 77. |
| The private service was held at Baldernock Church, a tiny kirk near Glasgow loved by the BBC's Mastermind presenter, who was born in Iceland. | The private service was held at Baldernock Church, a tiny kirk near Glasgow loved by the BBC's Mastermind presenter, who was born in Iceland. |
| A former Icelandic president was among almost 200 who attended the service, which featured two Icelandic songs. | A former Icelandic president was among almost 200 who attended the service, which featured two Icelandic songs. |
| The Rev William Storrar described Mr Magnusson as "one of the great storytellers of our time". | The Rev William Storrar described Mr Magnusson as "one of the great storytellers of our time". |
| Mr Storrar worked alongside Mr Magnusson, who he said was a "true gentleman", during his spell as rector of Edinburgh University. | Mr Storrar worked alongside Mr Magnusson, who he said was a "true gentleman", during his spell as rector of Edinburgh University. |
| The times we spent with him recently have been quite simply, the best Jon Magnusson | The times we spent with him recently have been quite simply, the best Jon Magnusson |
| The broadcaster, journalist and writer was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year. | The broadcaster, journalist and writer was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year. |
| Close family and friends were joined at the service by colleagues from a long and illustrious career. | Close family and friends were joined at the service by colleagues from a long and illustrious career. |
| Senior BBC figures were among the congregation, along with representatives of the many heritage and nature bodies where Mr Magnusson also played a leading role. | Senior BBC figures were among the congregation, along with representatives of the many heritage and nature bodies where Mr Magnusson also played a leading role. |
| Former Icelandic president VigdÃs Finnbogadóttir talked about Mr Magnusson's Icelandic heritage, of which he was extremely proud. | Former Icelandic president VigdÃs Finnbogadóttir talked about Mr Magnusson's Icelandic heritage, of which he was extremely proud. |
| She described him as "intellectually open, warm, witty and human", and someone who "always saw the funny side of things". | She described him as "intellectually open, warm, witty and human", and someone who "always saw the funny side of things". |
| 'Cultural institution' | 'Cultural institution' |
| "He was a cultural institution in Iceland whom the whole nation respected and admired," she said. | "He was a cultural institution in Iceland whom the whole nation respected and admired," she said. |
| "We are all proud of what this son of Iceland achieved. | "We are all proud of what this son of Iceland achieved. |
| "It is safe to say that no-one has matched the scale on which Magnus presented Iceland to the English-speaking world." | "It is safe to say that no-one has matched the scale on which Magnus presented Iceland to the English-speaking world." |
| One of the Icelandic songs played at the service was a lullaby written by Mr Magnusson's great-uncle. | One of the Icelandic songs played at the service was a lullaby written by Mr Magnusson's great-uncle. |
| Hymns included How Great Thou Art, Love Divine and Guide Me, O They Great Redeemer. | Hymns included How Great Thou Art, Love Divine and Guide Me, O They Great Redeemer. |
| Family and friends took part in the private service | Family and friends took part in the private service |
| The Icelandic Government sent a wreath in the Icelandic national colours and was represented at the funeral by the Icelandic ambassador, Sverrir Haukur Gunnlaugsson. | |
| Mr Magnusson's son Jon spoke on behalf of the family, explaining that his father was away working as his children were growing up. | Mr Magnusson's son Jon spoke on behalf of the family, explaining that his father was away working as his children were growing up. |
| "The times we spent with him recently have been, quite simply, the best," he said. | "The times we spent with him recently have been, quite simply, the best," he said. |
| "The father who had always been a little fierce, impatient and intimidating perhaps, emerged in later days as a sweet-natured dad, funny, adoring and adored." | "The father who had always been a little fierce, impatient and intimidating perhaps, emerged in later days as a sweet-natured dad, funny, adoring and adored." |
| He said that while having treatment at the Beatson Oncology unit, his father had gone outside for a "sly smoke" of his pipe, where he told his daughter Sally that the worst part of it was "the indignity." | He said that while having treatment at the Beatson Oncology unit, his father had gone outside for a "sly smoke" of his pipe, where he told his daughter Sally that the worst part of it was "the indignity." |
| "Over the last two months, as we watched dad cope with that indignity, he taught us all what true dignity really was," he said. | "Over the last two months, as we watched dad cope with that indignity, he taught us all what true dignity really was," he said. |
| He explained how his father had "settled into his last days in a makeshift bed in the lounge, near the log fire he loved and the piano and the view of the garden and the birds and the howling Blairskaith wind. | He explained how his father had "settled into his last days in a makeshift bed in the lounge, near the log fire he loved and the piano and the view of the garden and the birds and the howling Blairskaith wind. |
| 'Immeasurably proud' | 'Immeasurably proud' |
| "Here, he held court in relative comfort except for the night when a giant oil painting on the wall above his bed broke its string and landed on top of him with a huge clatter. | "Here, he held court in relative comfort except for the night when a giant oil painting on the wall above his bed broke its string and landed on top of him with a huge clatter. |
| "A foot further up and it would have killed him. | "A foot further up and it would have killed him. |
| "He thought this was hilarious and he laughed about it for days and days. | "He thought this was hilarious and he laughed about it for days and days. |
| "Dad never lost his wicked sense of humour." | "Dad never lost his wicked sense of humour." |
| Mr Magnusson was laid to rest in the churchyard alongside his late son Siggy, who died at the age of 11 in a road accident. | Mr Magnusson was laid to rest in the churchyard alongside his late son Siggy, who died at the age of 11 in a road accident. |
| Mr Magnusson's daughter Sally, a BBC Scotland broadcaster, said: "This service was about saying goodbye to a much-loved husband and father in a quiet, simple way. | Mr Magnusson's daughter Sally, a BBC Scotland broadcaster, said: "This service was about saying goodbye to a much-loved husband and father in a quiet, simple way. |
| "We wanted to say thank you to the many people who contributed to the final rich and happy weeks of Magnus' life. | "We wanted to say thank you to the many people who contributed to the final rich and happy weeks of Magnus' life. |
| "And we were remembering that as my father's strength failed, the essence of the man seemed to burn the brighter - his dignity, his grace, and, above all, his unquenchable thirst for life. | "And we were remembering that as my father's strength failed, the essence of the man seemed to burn the brighter - his dignity, his grace, and, above all, his unquenchable thirst for life. |
| "We are immeasurably proud of him." | "We are immeasurably proud of him." |
| A memorial service for Mr Magnusson is to be held at a later date in Glasgow. | A memorial service for Mr Magnusson is to be held at a later date in Glasgow. |