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Bee Gee Robin Gibb's funeral takes place in Thame | Bee Gee Robin Gibb's funeral takes place in Thame |
(40 minutes later) | |
The funeral of Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb is being held in his home town in Oxfordshire. | The funeral of Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb is being held in his home town in Oxfordshire. |
Hundreds of fans lined the streets of Thame earlier to pay their respects as a lone bagpiper led a procession through the town. | |
Gibb's body was carried in a horse-drawn carriage, followed by two Irish wolfhounds and guests, including Barry Gibb and broadcaster Paul Gambaccini. | |
Gibb died from kidney failure in May. He had battled cancer and pneumonia. | |
The horse-drawn carriage passed through the town before a private church service attended by his family and close friends. | |
His family said his wish was to say a "final goodbye" to fans and the town. | |
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." |
Other guests at the service include musician Peter Andre and actor Leslie Phillips. | |
Radio presenter Henry Wymbs, who has known the Gibb family for a number of years as Robin's wife Dwina was a fan of his Irish Eye programme, 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." | 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." |
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. | 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. |
Best-selling soundtrack | |
"It was their music that was just so special. | "It was their music that was just so special. |
"He was 62 and I'm 61 so I've grown up in that era." | "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. | 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. | "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." | "His songs have been the soundtrack to my life." |
Sonia Chittenden, 62, from Hartley Wintney in Hampshire, who has been a fan of Gibb since she was 16, said: "I first mobbed him on stage at the Royal Albert Hall in London and I got thrown out." | Sonia Chittenden, 62, from Hartley Wintney in Hampshire, who has been a fan of 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 said she once got his autograph at Heathrow Airport and had been to every concert in the UK. | She said she once got his autograph at Heathrow Airport and had been to every concert in the UK. |
Gibb also invited her back to his house for a cup of tea after she met him outside a recording studio in London, she said. | Gibb also invited her back to his house for a cup of tea after she met him outside a recording studio in London, she said. |
Gibb's musical career began when he formed the Bee Gees with brothers Barry and Maurice in 1958. | Gibb's musical career began when he formed the Bee Gees with brothers Barry and Maurice in 1958. |
The group is among the biggest-selling acts of all time, with hits including Stayin' Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Massachusetts and Night Fever. | The group is among the biggest-selling acts of all time, with hits 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 of all time. | Their 1977 soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling movie soundtrack of all time. |