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Melly farewell is all that jazz (and no blues)
Last updated at 14:07pm on 13.07.07There were jokes, music, outrageous suits and raucous laughter, and today a grey overcast corner of West London was transformed into New Orleans as the funeral was held of George Melly, the flamboyant jazz entertainer who died last week.
As his coffin was borne to the West London crematorium a jazz band, including Kenny Ball on trumpet, struck up a New Orleans funeral march.
They played Just A Closer Walk With Thee and When The Saints - music so uplifting that mourners tapped their feet and some danced.
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Final journey: Sixties model Penelope Tree, left, and Melly's granddaughter Kizzie help carry his cardboard coffin
The cardboard coffin was covered with old snapshots and cartoons of Melly by his friends
It was not a conventional funeral; but Melly was not a conventional man. Friends and family rubbed shoulders with old mistresses - he was never one to observe the sanctities of the marriage vows.
The cardboard coffin was covered with old snapshots and cartoons of Melly by his friends. Someone had even tied fishing line, to commemorate his love of trout fishing.
A fishing line was tied to the coffin to commemorate Melly's love of trout fishing, Jazz man Kenny Ball (right) was among the mourners
Good-time George: Melly's funeral was as unconventional as the man himself, with friends, family and former mistresses all in attendance
Good-time George as he was so often known, was a man who collected friends all his life and among the mourners were Alan Bennett, Jonathan Miller, Anna Ford, the singer Paul Jones and the artist Maggi Hambling.
His widow Diana told the congregation Melly had a "fortunateî death because he had died at home.
It wasn't always easy, though: as he lay dying "three girlfriends all came on the same day - but not quite at the same time".
His son Tom read the death of Falstaff from Shakespeare and then broke down as he said: "I will always love him. I will always miss him and I will never forget him. He was bloody marvellous - and so were his suits."
Swansong: a New Orleans-style jazz band plays outside the chapel
Reader views (6)
Came to my town and I missed his performance, so so sad will never have another chance to see him.
- Henry Doidge, Tavistock UK
Great Guy brought fun and hapiness to many.
- Robin Searle, Barnet
I will miss George so much. He did everything we're told not to by the puritans who run this country! He was so much fun. I can't believe I'll never be at one of his concerts again.
- Jennifer Holman, Tring, UK
You made us dance, laugh, and sing, you were the rebel that so many of us were in the trad era, but you did it better than us. Your tributes on television were outrageous, but made us love you even more.
- Alastair Young, Exeter
'Just a Closer Walk with thee' is a truly uplifting gospel song- my absolute favourite of all time! I wish I'd been there too...
Rest in Peace George.
- Sheila Wilson, London
I didn't find out it was GM's funeral until today and it was too late for me to get there in time. I am so sick that I wasn't better prepared. I was at The 100 Club on 10 June but I didn't make it today and I feel ashamed of myself.
It sounds as though GM would have approved of his send off!
- O, Cambridgeshire, UK
