This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-29849668
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Lynda Bellingham funeral: Tributes to 'brilliant' friend | Lynda Bellingham funeral: Tributes to 'brilliant' friend |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Lynda Bellingham has been described as "brave, beautiful, brilliant, funny and fabulous" at her funeral, by her friend and TV star Gyles Brandreth. | Lynda Bellingham has been described as "brave, beautiful, brilliant, funny and fabulous" at her funeral, by her friend and TV star Gyles Brandreth. |
| A service for the 66-year-old was held at St Bartholomew's Church in Somerset. | A service for the 66-year-old was held at St Bartholomew's Church in Somerset. |
| Best known for her long-running role as a mum in the Oxo TV adverts, she had battled colon cancer since being diagnosed in July 2013. | Best known for her long-running role as a mum in the Oxo TV adverts, she had battled colon cancer since being diagnosed in July 2013. |
| Other guests included Loose Women colleagues Jane McDonald, Kate Thornton and Andrea McLean. | Other guests included Loose Women colleagues Jane McDonald, Kate Thornton and Andrea McLean. |
| The actress died "in her husband's arms" on 19 October, in a London hospital. | The actress died "in her husband's arms" on 19 October, in a London hospital. |
| Bellingham decided to stop having chemotherapy to limit her family's suffering, after her cancer spread to her lungs and liver. | Bellingham decided to stop having chemotherapy to limit her family's suffering, after her cancer spread to her lungs and liver. |
| Speaking last month, she said giving up the treatment was "a huge relief because I took back some control of myself". | |
| During the service at the church in Crewkerne, Mr Brandreth said: "I first met her nearly 40 years ago when we were introduced by [Christopher] Biggins. | During the service at the church in Crewkerne, Mr Brandreth said: "I first met her nearly 40 years ago when we were introduced by [Christopher] Biggins. |
| "Of course, I fell for her at once. She was so funny and so sexy - even gay men fancied her." | "Of course, I fell for her at once. She was so funny and so sexy - even gay men fancied her." |
| Actress Maureen Lipman paid tribute, saying: "I wish I could reproduce the fun times, the joke-telling. | Actress Maureen Lipman paid tribute, saying: "I wish I could reproduce the fun times, the joke-telling. |
| "Her sudden honking laughter, her craziness, her rich, throaty and slightly metallic voice, her high campery and her beautiful brown eyes." | "Her sudden honking laughter, her craziness, her rich, throaty and slightly metallic voice, her high campery and her beautiful brown eyes." |
| At the scene: Tammy McAllister, BBC News | At the scene: Tammy McAllister, BBC News |
| Among the mourners were two ladies who told me they felt they wanted to pay their respects as Lynda was a well-known and loved figure whom they had grown up with in the public eye. But they also did not want to intrude on the family's grief. | Among the mourners were two ladies who told me they felt they wanted to pay their respects as Lynda was a well-known and loved figure whom they had grown up with in the public eye. But they also did not want to intrude on the family's grief. |
| Another mourner, Joyce Willey said: "Fourteen years ago I survived cancer with only 40 per cent chance of survival - I'm still here 14 years later. It's quite poignant when you've had it yourself and you realise it's quite a devastating thing - it's not a nice word, cancer." | Another mourner, Joyce Willey said: "Fourteen years ago I survived cancer with only 40 per cent chance of survival - I'm still here 14 years later. It's quite poignant when you've had it yourself and you realise it's quite a devastating thing - it's not a nice word, cancer." |
| About 300 members of the public turned up at St Bartholomew's Church for the funeral, which was decorated with viburnum, avalanche roses and mint green carnations - all in hues of green and white, which were Lynda's favourite colours. | About 300 members of the public turned up at St Bartholomew's Church for the funeral, which was decorated with viburnum, avalanche roses and mint green carnations - all in hues of green and white, which were Lynda's favourite colours. |
| One woman, Marlene, who went along to pay her respects, said: "It's an honour, it's lovely to think she's being buried here, it's an honour for Crewkerne." | One woman, Marlene, who went along to pay her respects, said: "It's an honour, it's lovely to think she's being buried here, it's an honour for Crewkerne." |
| Polly Warner told me: "I think she's an absolutely wonderful lady, very strong, inspirational to a lot of people. I lost my mother to cancer coming up to two years ago. She's a marvellous woman, such an inspiration." | |
| Margaret Long said: "I've always admired what she's done, her personality. I first remember her as being the Oxo mum and my children used to love her. I think she's an inspiration to anyone who has got cancer." | Margaret Long said: "I've always admired what she's done, her personality. I first remember her as being the Oxo mum and my children used to love her. I think she's an inspiration to anyone who has got cancer." |
| Bellingham had an acting career that spanned five decades. | Bellingham had an acting career that spanned five decades. |
| She had a starring role in the BBC series All Creatures Great and Small, which for a time became a staple of Sunday evening viewing. | She had a starring role in the BBC series All Creatures Great and Small, which for a time became a staple of Sunday evening viewing. |
| But for many people, she will be best remembered for her 16 years as the "Oxo Mum" in advertisements that became a series of mini-soap operas. | But for many people, she will be best remembered for her 16 years as the "Oxo Mum" in advertisements that became a series of mini-soap operas. |
| She was born Meredith Lee Hughes in Montreal, Canada, on 31 May 1948. | She was born Meredith Lee Hughes in Montreal, Canada, on 31 May 1948. |
| Her mother Marjorie gave birth to her out of wedlock, incensing her strict Jewish family, who made her give up her daughter. | Her mother Marjorie gave birth to her out of wedlock, incensing her strict Jewish family, who made her give up her daughter. |
| She was adopted by a British couple, Donald and Ruth Bellingham, who brought her up in their Buckinghamshire home. | She was adopted by a British couple, Donald and Ruth Bellingham, who brought her up in their Buckinghamshire home. |