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Bee Gee Robin Gibb's funeral to take place in Thame | Bee Gee Robin Gibb's funeral to take place in Thame |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The funeral of Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb is to be held later in his home town in Oxfordshire. | The funeral of Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb is to be held later in his home town in Oxfordshire. |
Fans have begun to line the streets of Thame to pay their respects as his body is taken in a horse-drawn carriage to his funeral. | |
Gibb, who was born in the Isle of Man, died from kidney failure in May after suffering from cancer and pneumonia. | Gibb, who was born in the Isle of Man, died from kidney failure in May after suffering from cancer and pneumonia. |
The horse-drawn carriage will travel through the town at about 13:30 BST before a private church service. | The horse-drawn carriage will travel through the town at about 13:30 BST before a private church service. |
Gibb's son Robin-John said the Bee Gees hit I Started A Joke would be played at the church. | Gibb's son Robin-John said the Bee Gees hit I Started A Joke would be played at the church. |
The track Don't Cry Alone, which is one of Gibb's final compositions from his Titanic Requiem - premiered only weeks before his death - will also be played. | The track Don't Cry Alone, which is one of Gibb's final compositions from his Titanic Requiem - premiered only weeks before his death - will also be played. |
The song features the opening lines: "If your heart is breaking, I'm yours whatever, I will not forsake you ever, don't cry alone." | The song features the opening lines: "If your heart is breaking, I'm yours whatever, I will not forsake you ever, don't cry alone." |
His family said his wish was to say a "final goodbye" to fans and the town. | His family said his wish was to say a "final goodbye" to fans and the town. |
Radio presenter Henry Wymbs has known the Gibb family for a number of years as Robin's wife Dwina was a fan of his Irish Eye programme. | Radio presenter Henry Wymbs has known the Gibb family for a number of years as Robin's wife Dwina was a fan of his Irish Eye programme. |
'Very genuine man' | |
Mr Wymbs said: "Part of my youth died with him because he created so many of the songs I loved. | Mr Wymbs said: "Part of my youth died with him because he created so many of the songs I loved. |
"He was humble, down to earth, a very genuine man who wasn't affected by fame or wealth. | "He was humble, down to earth, a very genuine man who wasn't affected by fame or wealth. |
"Apparently he had really become a part of the community in Thame and I can believe that because he was such a nice man." | "Apparently he had really become a part of the community in Thame and I can believe that because he was such a nice man." |
Mayor of Thame, Nigel Champken-Woods said: "He did switch the Christmas lights on a few years ago and he was happy to sign autographs and talk to people. | |
"Despite the weather I think we'll have quite a good turnout for people to pay their last respects to somebody who was well-known in the town." | |
Bee Gees fan Jill Horton, who has travelled to Thame from Buckingham, said: "We're big fans, the whole family, right through to my four-year-old granddaughter. It was their music that was just so special. | |
"He was 62 and I'm 61 so I've grown up in that era." | |
Richard Jones, 62, who travelled to Thame from Birmingham, said: "I met him 18 months ago when he was making a documentary about Bomber Command. | |
"We both had a ride in a Lancaster and then he spoke to me for 15 to 20 minutes. He didn't try to fob me off, he was a total gentleman. His songs have been the soundtrack to my life." | |
Best-selling soundtrack | Best-selling soundtrack |
Sonia Chittenden, 62, who has been a fan of Robin Gibb since she was 16, said: "I first mobbed him on stage at the Royal Albert Hall in London and I got thrown out." | |
She later waited for him at Heathrow Airport where she got his autograph and has been to every concert in the UK. | |
Gibb also invited her back to his house for a coffee after she met him outside a recording studio in London. | |
Gibb's musical career began when he formed the Bee Gees with his brothers Barry and Maurice in 1958. | Gibb's musical career began when he formed the Bee Gees with his brothers Barry and Maurice in 1958. |
The group is among the biggest-selling groups of all time, with hits spanning six decades including Stayin' Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Massachusetts and Night Fever. | The group is among the biggest-selling groups of all time, with hits spanning six decades including Stayin' Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Massachusetts and Night Fever. |
They made almost 30 albums and sold more than 110 million records. | They made almost 30 albums and sold more than 110 million records. |
Their 1977 soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling movie soundtrack ever. | Their 1977 soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling movie soundtrack ever. |