Coronation Street stars past and present gathered in Greater Manchester today (November 27) for the funeral of show legend Bill Tarmey.
The actor's send-off took place at the Albion United Reform Church in Ashton-under-Lyne this afternoon.
© PA Images / Martin Rickett/PA Wire
Around 700 people were in attendance inside the church, while hundreds of fans gathered outside to hear the service relayed over loudspeakers, PA reports.
Tarmey's wife Ali and two children Carl and Sara were among the mourners, along with many familiar faces from Coronation Street.
Samia Ghadie (Maria Connor) and Tarmey's on-screen son Nigel Pivaro (Terry Duckworth) gave speeches to the congregation. Ghadie hailed Tarmey as "a true Coronation Street legend" in her speech, while Pivaro noted that "the world's a little poorer for Bill no longer being with us, but heaven is a little richer".
Other former colleagues in attendance included Bill Roache (Ken Barlow), Liz Dawn (Vera Duckworth), Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs), Julie Goodyear (Bet Lynch), Roy Barraclough (Alec Gilroy), Kevin Kennedy (Curly Watts), Brooke Vincent (Sophie Webster), Jennie McAlpine (Fiz Stape), Shobna Gulati (Sunita Alahan) and Kate Ford (Tracy Barlow).
© PA Images / Martin Rickett/PA Wire
A recording of Tarmey singing 'The Wind Beneath My Wings' was played in the church, while the order of service also included a poetry reading and hymns.
Tarmey, well-loved for playing Weatherfield's Jack Duckworth between 1979 and 2010, passed away in Tenerife on November 9. He was 71.
Tributes poured in for Tarmey following his death last month, and his loved ones have requested that donations are made to Brain Tumour Research in his memory. Tarmey became a patron of the charity to help raise funds and awareness after son Carl was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2009.
Last edited by alan45; 27-11-2012 at 15:21.
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