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Sir Jimmy Savile funeral under way at Leeds Cathedral | |
(40 minutes later) | |
The funeral service for Sir Jimmy Savile has begun at Leeds Cathedral. | |
Earlier, hundreds of fans gathered in the city centre to pay their respects as the former DJ and presenter made his final journey through the city. | |
The cortege travelled through Leeds before the service, passing Sir Jimmy's childhood home and Leeds General Infirmary. | |
DJ Mike Read said: "Today should be a celebration. He'd have loved it, a showman to the end." | |
Hundreds of people gathered earlier at the Queen's Hotel, where his gold-coloured coffin has been on public display. | |
Relatives and friends entitled to access a private room to view his body had been given special Jim'll Fix It badges to get in. | |
Royal Marines are pallbearers for the service at the cathedral, which can seat up to 700 people and is also being attended by former Conservative minister Lord Tebbit. | |
Sir Jimmy is to buried in Scarborough on Thursday with his green beret, presented by the Royal Marines in the 1970s, after a speed march 30 miles across Dartmoor. | Sir Jimmy is to buried in Scarborough on Thursday with his green beret, presented by the Royal Marines in the 1970s, after a speed march 30 miles across Dartmoor. |
Maj Blair Illingworth, officer commanding the Leeds detachment of the Royal Marine Reserve, said he would be treated as "one of our own". | Maj Blair Illingworth, officer commanding the Leeds detachment of the Royal Marine Reserve, said he would be treated as "one of our own". |
Sir Jimmy will also be buried with a Help for Heroes wristband because of his support for the armed services over the years. | Sir Jimmy will also be buried with a Help for Heroes wristband because of his support for the armed services over the years. |
He often worshipped at the cathedral, sitting quietly at the back of the building in a duffel coat, according to John Grady from the Leeds Diocese. | He often worshipped at the cathedral, sitting quietly at the back of the building in a duffel coat, according to John Grady from the Leeds Diocese. |
"He'd say 'I'm not the star here, people come to pray to Jesus'," Mr Grady said. | "He'd say 'I'm not the star here, people come to pray to Jesus'," Mr Grady said. |
Eulogies will be read by Sir Jimmy's nephew Roger Foster, his friends Howard Silverman and Neil Littlewood and representatives from Leeds General Infirmary and Stoke Mandeville Hospital. | Eulogies will be read by Sir Jimmy's nephew Roger Foster, his friends Howard Silverman and Neil Littlewood and representatives from Leeds General Infirmary and Stoke Mandeville Hospital. |
Mr Foster, one of the family members organising the funeral events, said he was "overwhelmed" by the public response to his uncle. | Mr Foster, one of the family members organising the funeral events, said he was "overwhelmed" by the public response to his uncle. |
"He would go to celebrity functions but in his life he always chose to mix with ordinary, everyday people," he said. | "He would go to celebrity functions but in his life he always chose to mix with ordinary, everyday people," he said. |
Leeds City Council leader Keith Wakefield said many people in the city wanted to pay their respects. | Leeds City Council leader Keith Wakefield said many people in the city wanted to pay their respects. |
"What has taken me by surprise has been the fact that nearly everybody I speak to knew him, experienced some time with him or actually saw him running. | "What has taken me by surprise has been the fact that nearly everybody I speak to knew him, experienced some time with him or actually saw him running. |
"That's an incredible skill and achievement." | "That's an incredible skill and achievement." |
Sir Jimmy died at his home in Roundhay, Leeds, on 29 October. He was 84. | Sir Jimmy died at his home in Roundhay, Leeds, on 29 October. He was 84. |
On Tuesday, fans travelled from across the country to see Sir Jimmy's coffin, which was covered with white roses. | On Tuesday, fans travelled from across the country to see Sir Jimmy's coffin, which was covered with white roses. |
On Thursday, he will be buried in one of his trademark tracksuits. | On Thursday, he will be buried in one of his trademark tracksuits. |
He will be set at an angle of 45 degrees at a cemetery in Scarborough "to enable him to see the sea", funeral director Robert Morphet confirmed. | He will be set at an angle of 45 degrees at a cemetery in Scarborough "to enable him to see the sea", funeral director Robert Morphet confirmed. |
The coffin will tour Scarborough, where he had a home, to give people there the chance to pay their respects before Sir Jimmy is laid to rest in the most elevated plot in the cemetery. | The coffin will tour Scarborough, where he had a home, to give people there the chance to pay their respects before Sir Jimmy is laid to rest in the most elevated plot in the cemetery. |