Bonnie Tyler's funeral at Swansea Minster on Saturday saw her white coffin, adorned with white roses and lilies, carried into the church to the soundtrack of her own hit songs, including If I Sing You A Love Song and It's A Heartache. The service, conducted by Reverend Canon Justin Davies, began at midday after the hearse arrived 10 minutes earlier to spontaneous applause from the crowd, who also shouted 'goodbye' as the coffin, etched with a microphone and treble clef, was carried inside.
Tributes from Those Who Knew Her
Roger Bell, the talent scout who discovered Tyler when she performed in a Swansea club, paid tribute during the service. 'Gaynor was one of a kind. You always knew where you stood with her. She said it like it was. I'm sure there are a lot of us here that have experienced that,' he said. Bell noted that Tyler was 'loved by millions worldwide,' with tributes from the Houses of Parliament, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Portuguese government, Cliff Richard, Rod Stewart, Suzi Quatro, and many more. 'But here in Swansea, she was loved by Robert and the family as Gaynor and Auntie Gaynor. There was a warmth and sincerity about her that shone through, and she never said no to having a photo taken or giving an autograph to anyone who asked.'
Welsh broadcaster Roy Noble, who befriended Tyler after interviewing her, called it 'a great privilege' to be there but added: 'It's very sad indeed, and we feel for Robert, her husband. (She was) very down to earth and very much a family girl. She had a few more years left in her. She was 75 when she passed away, so it's an awful, awful shame.'
Emotional Farewell from Fans and Friends
Welsh musician Mal Pope, a longtime friend, said the weekend had been 'emotional.' 'She felt like a really local person and I think sometimes we forgot she was an international superstar. We recorded together, we performed on stage together, she'd come on my TV and radio shows, she would always turn up to support me and never ever ask for anything in return.'
The order of service listed other songs, including Bridge Over Troubled Water, Only Men Aloud, Total Eclipse Of The Heart, Those Were The Days, and Making Love Out Of Nothing. In lieu of flowers, Tyler's family asked for support for two charities she was a patron of: Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales and Cerebral Palsy Cymru. The service order described her as 'a warm, generous artist whose music touched generations and continues to fill dance floors and karaoke booths around the world,' adding that her legacy 'lives on in the timeless songs that made her a legend.'
Final Journey and Legacy
After the service, Tyler's coffin was taken on a final journey through her hometown of Skewen, near Neath, at around 1.20pm, before a private family committal. Swansea Council said the procession would travel along Fabian Way to Ashleigh Terrace, through Jersey Marine, Pen Y Heol, Burrows Road, Hen Hoel, New Road, Sidling Terrace, Park Avenue, and Peniel Green Road.
Tyler, whose real name was Gaynor Hopkins, died in July at age 75, months after emergency intestinal surgery in Portugal that placed her in an induced coma. She achieved international fame in the 1980s when Total Eclipse Of The Heart topped charts in the UK and US, from her only UK number one album Faster Than The Speed Of Night. Known for her husky voice, she also released hits like Holding Out For A Hero and represented the UK in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing 19th.
On Saturday, fans from across the world gathered as her coffin, draped in a Welsh flag, was returned to Mumbles, with the crowd bursting into a rendition of Total Eclipse Of The Heart. Jan Roach, a local, said: 'We know the family very well and it's been a tough time for all of us, not just friends, family, but I think the whole of Mumbles. She was so loved by many, many people, we're so devastated, we're still reeling from the loss of her.' Stars including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Rod Stewart, and Bryan Adams also paid tribute following her death.
