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Lynda Bellingham funeral: a day of sadness and celebration to say goodbye Lynda Bellingham funeral: a day of sadness and celebration to say goodbye
(35 minutes later)
Stars of screen and stage joined the family and friends of Lynda Bellingham to pay tribute and bid a fond farewell to the beloved actor and broadcaster. Stars of screen and stage have joined the family and friends of Lynda Bellingham to pay tribute and bid a fond farewell to the beloved actor and broadcaster.
Scores of members of the public also braved the rain and cold to pay their respects to the woman who came to be known as the nation’s “favourite mum” for her role in the long-running Oxo adverts. Scores of the public also braved the rain and cold to pay their respects to the woman who came to be known as the “nation’s favourite mum” for her role in the long-running Oxo adverts.
Bellingham, who lost her very public battle with cancer last month aged 66, had wanted her funeral to be a lively send-off rather than a sombre affair and urged her friends and relatives to enjoy a “big party”.Bellingham, who lost her very public battle with cancer last month aged 66, had wanted her funeral to be a lively send-off rather than a sombre affair and urged her friends and relatives to enjoy a “big party”.
Among the mourners attending the service at St Bartholomew’s church in Crewkerne, Somerset, the home town of her husband Michael Pattemore, were the actor Robert Lindsay and the creator of Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes. Among the mourners attending the service at St Bartholomew’s church in Crewkerne, Somerset, the home town of her husband, Michael Pattemore, were the actor Robert Lindsay and the creator of Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes.
As he headed to the church, the broadcaster Gyles Brandreth tweeted: “Pale grey skies and a day of sadness and celebration as we set off to say goodbye to lovely Lynda Bellingham.”As he headed to the church, the broadcaster Gyles Brandreth tweeted: “Pale grey skies and a day of sadness and celebration as we set off to say goodbye to lovely Lynda Bellingham.”
Also attending was Bellingham’s on-screen husband from the Oxo adverts, Michael Redfern, while the entertainer Christopher Biggins arrived in a bright pink suit, explaining that it would have made Bellingham smile. Among those due to pay tribute during the service were the writer Lynda La Plante and actor Maureen Lipman. Also attending was Bellingham’s on-screen husband from the Oxo adverts, Michael Redfern, while the entertainer Christopher Biggins arrived in a bright pink suit, explaining that it would have made Bellingham smile. Among those due to pay tribute during the service were the writer Lynda La Plante and the actor Maureen Lipman.
During the service, friends praised Bellingham’s joy in life and dignity as she faced death. During the service, friends praised Bellingham’s joy in life and her dignity as she faced death.
Brandreth said he had been introduced to her 40 years ago. “I liked her at once. I couldn’t not. She was so funny and so sexy. Every guy who met her fancied her. In fact I say especially gay men fancied her,” he said. Brandreth said he had been introduced to her 40 years ago. “I liked her at once. I couldn’t not. She was so funny and so sexy. Every guy who met her fancied her. Gay men fancied her,” he said.
“She would be the first to admit that when she came to men she didn’t always get it right. Her first marriage was a blip, her second was a trauma, although it brought her her greatest gifts in life – her two sons.”“She would be the first to admit that when she came to men she didn’t always get it right. Her first marriage was a blip, her second was a trauma, although it brought her her greatest gifts in life – her two sons.”
But he said her third husband had made her “so happy”.But he said her third husband had made her “so happy”.
Brandreth added: “She showed us how to live and then in her last months she showed us how to die; with grace and courage and humour and acceptance. About three weeks ago she called me and she said: ’I’m in a good place you know, I really am.’” Brandreth added: “She showed us how to live and then in her last months she showed us how to die; with grace and courage and humour and acceptance. About three weeks ago she called me and she said: ‘I’m in a good place you know, I really am.’”
Speaking on behalf of her Loose Women co-stars, Jane McDonald fought back tears as she remembered the deep love Bellingham had for her sons and husband. McDonald said: “She loved you so much. That’s what Lynda had in abundance, she had love. You only had to ring Lynda and she would bring you out of it. We all know that Lynda was a great actress but she was so much more.Speaking on behalf of her Loose Women co-stars, Jane McDonald fought back tears as she remembered the deep love Bellingham had for her sons and husband. McDonald said: “She loved you so much. That’s what Lynda had in abundance, she had love. You only had to ring Lynda and she would bring you out of it. We all know that Lynda was a great actress but she was so much more.
“She just had this passion for life and the thing about Lynda Bellingham – Lynda Bellingham Pattemore OBE – she lived three lives more than any of us. She knew how to live. She really did.”“She just had this passion for life and the thing about Lynda Bellingham – Lynda Bellingham Pattemore OBE – she lived three lives more than any of us. She knew how to live. She really did.”
Bellingham had had cancer of the colon since July 2013 but the disease had spread to her lungs and liver. In September she revealed she had only weeks to live after deciding to end her chemotherapy. Her agent, Sue Latimer, said Bellingham died in the arms of her husband.Bellingham had had cancer of the colon since July 2013 but the disease had spread to her lungs and liver. In September she revealed she had only weeks to live after deciding to end her chemotherapy. Her agent, Sue Latimer, said Bellingham died in the arms of her husband.
Bellingham’s acting career included roles in All Creatures Great and Small and she was a regular on the panel show Loose Women.Bellingham’s acting career included roles in All Creatures Great and Small and she was a regular on the panel show Loose Women.
Before the service Loose Women co-presenter Nadia Sawalha, who also appeared with Bellingham in the Oxo adverts, paid tribute to a “brilliant actress”. She said Bellingham told her fellow Loose Women panellists: “Please, when I’m gone, have a big party for me and have a dance.” Before the service, another of her Loose Women co-presenter, Nadia Sawalha, who also appeared with Bellingham in the Oxo adverts, paid tribute to a “brilliant actress”. She said Bellingham told her fellow Loose Women panellists: “Please, when I’m gone, have a big party for me and have a dance.”
The service began with Bellingham’s husband, Michael, and sons Michael, 31, and Robert, 26, helping to carry her wooden coffin adorned with white flowers into the church as Nimrod from Elgar’s Enigma Variations was played.The service began with Bellingham’s husband, Michael, and sons Michael, 31, and Robert, 26, helping to carry her wooden coffin adorned with white flowers into the church as Nimrod from Elgar’s Enigma Variations was played.
Some mourners wept as they followed the coffin, carrying white roses.Some mourners wept as they followed the coffin, carrying white roses.
Pattemore has revealed the inscription on his late wife’s grave will be: “The curtain went up on May 31 1948, and the final curtain went down on October 19 2014.”Pattemore has revealed the inscription on his late wife’s grave will be: “The curtain went up on May 31 1948, and the final curtain went down on October 19 2014.”
The order of service asked mourners to donate to charity Action Against Cancer. Mourners were asked to donate to the charity Action Against Cancer.