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EastEnders' farewell to Wendy Richard
Amar Singh9 Mar 2009
A host of television stars gathered today at the funeral of Wendy Richard as family members and friends were joined by actors from the two shows for which she is best remembered - Are You Being Served? and EastEnders.
Richard, who played Pauline Fowler on the BBC soap for 21 years, died last month aged 65 after a battle with cancer.
Todd Carty, her on-screen son from EastEnders, joined Richard's husband John Burns among the pallbearers who carried her coffin into St Marylebone Parish Church in central London.
Letitia Dean, who played Sharon Watts in the show, said as she walked into the church: "Wendy would have loved this."
Other EastEnders stars past and present at the service included June Brown (Dot Cotton), Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale), Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson), Barbara Windsor (Peggy Mitchell), Pam St Clement (Pat Butcher), Natalie Cassidy (Sonia Jackson) and John Altman (Nick Cotton).
They were joined by stars from the sitcom Are You Being Served? Frank Thornton (Captain Peacock) and Mollie Sugden (Mrs Slocombe).
Richard played Cockney department store sales assistant Miss Brahms in the show which ran from 1972 to 1985. Mourners were given an order of service, which included Richard's favourite chilli con carne recipe.
In The Mood by Glenn Miller and the Sixties hit Spirit In The Sky were among the songs played to the congregation this afternoon.
An EastEnders spokeswoman said more than 100 current cast and crew attended the service. Richard was awarded the MBE for services to television in 2000.
Reader views (4)
I also grew up laughing at the sit-com AYBS. Even though I was only 8 when the show started I was in love with Miss Brahms. It is so sad to see them all going one by one. It is also great to see Mollie and Frank there to pay tribute. Eastenders was not onTV here so I will always remember her as the lovely Miss Brahms. Back with Mr. Humphries now. Bet they are having a blast up there.
- Graham, Sydney Australia, 13/03/2009 13:37
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We never got tired of the re-runs of "Are You Being Served" on our Public Broadcasting Station here in the USA. Thurday night was always reserved for the "Brit" comedy -- Wendy Richards will be missed -- she personified qualities of a caring friend and it was transcended through her character performances. God Speed.
- Patillo, columbia, missouri, usa, 10/03/2009 10:39
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What a lovely send off this must have been.
- Casper Slides, France at the moment, 09/03/2009 23:24
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NO COMMENT JUST TO SAY WENDY RICHARDS WAS LOVELY ON SCRENE NO MATTER WHAT.I GREW UP ON ARE YOU BEING SERVED AND NOW EASTENDERS IT WONT BE THE SAME WITHOUT HER.SHE WILL BE MISSED VERY MUCH XXX
- Mrs Donna Pryer, CORBY NORTHAMPTONSHIRE UK, 09/03/2009 21:27
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