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Celebrities set for Reid funeral Stars attend Mike Reid's funeral
(about 9 hours later)
Famous names from show business are expected at the funeral of actor and comedian Mike Reid. Famous names from showbusiness have attended the funeral of actor and comedian Mike Reid in Essex.
The 67-year-old star, who played Frank Butcher in BBC's EastEnders, suffered a heart attack on 29 July. The 67-year-old star, who was best known for playing Frank Butcher in the BBC soap EastEnders, suffered a heart attack on 29 July.
His agent David Hahn said EastEnders' actors Barbara Windsor and June Brown would join Frank Carson and Russ Abbot among the mourners. Co-stars from the show attending the service included Pam St Clement, June Brown and Barbara Windsor.
The funeral will take place at Little Easton Parish Church in Essex. Reid had lived in nearby Great Easton. Speaking to people gathered outside the church, Windsor said: "He was a great man, he made me laugh."
Mr Hahn, who will read tributes along with one of Reid's son's Jimmy, said he had been "amazed" by the reaction to the actor's death. Comedian Frank Carson said: "He was one of my great friends. All of showbusiness will miss him but, thanks to television, he'll never disappear."
"Mike was a people's person. He loved the working man in the street. Mike always said to me, 'it's those people who put me where I am today'," he said. The funeral took place at Little Easton Parish Church in Essex
"I knew Mike was a popular man but I never in a million years expected him to be as popular as this. I've had over 2,000 e-mails expressing condolences." Sid Owen, who played Frank's son Ricky in EastEnders said he would "always remember" the late actor.
Mr Hahn added that Reid's family, including his widow Shirley, 69, were still "numb" at his death. Comedian Russ Abbot, football agent Eric Hall and boxer Henry Cooper also attended.
"Shirley has not just lost a husband, she has also lost her best friend. He doted on her and he was her rock," he said. 'Charismatic'
"Mike was 6ft 3in and she is a petite lady but, to Mike, she was the biggest person in the world." Reid's agent, David Hahn, said the star would have made light of the rainy conditions outside the service.
Following the service mourners will attend a wake for Reid who will be cremated in Chelmsford, Essex, on Wednesday. "Knowing Reidy he would have wanted it to be upbeat and, with the weather the way it is today, he'd be laughing at us."
During the service, Reid's step-son Jimmy called him "a charismatic man and a gentleman to the end".
Shirley Reid was comforted by family members
"He came into my life when I was just eight years of age and my sister was two," he added.
"Up until then life had not been kind to our family but once he arrived everything changed for the better. When I look back at this time, fun was relentless."
He recalled how Reid would play games with him when he was young and was always there for him.
"He was a big man. Big in stature, big in presence, big in everything.
"When he walked into a room, even before he was famous, people noticed him because of the aura surrounding him.
Reid's on-screen wife, Pam St Clement, attended the service
"He will be sadly missed by many, but to our family, and especially to our mother Shirley, his loss is almost too much to bear," he added.
Reid's coffin was taken into the church as his hit single, The Ugly Duckling, played.
The coffin was followed by Reid's widow, Shirley, who was comforted by family members.
Frank Sinatra's My Way was among other songs to be played to the congregation.
The funeral took place at Little Easton Parish Church in Essex. Reid had lived in nearby Great Easton.