Traditional funeral for Kenny Everett

The zany disc-jockey and comedian died in his sleep last Tuesday from

an Aids-related illness. He was 50.

Among the mourners at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, in

Mayfair, west London, was Terry Wogan, who said: ''It's a happy ending

-- I just give thanks for his life and I'm sure he will be happy in the

next life.''

The coffin was carried into the church, covered in yellow flowers.

Among wreaths was one with a card saying from ''Petal Bum''.

It was an ultra-traditional funeral service, with full Requiem Mass,

for one of the showbusiness world's least traditional stars, who turned

his back on TV fame with his Kenny Everett Video Show to present a show

on the London oldies radio station, Capital Gold.

Hioowever, Kenny Everett had been consoled by his Catholic faith in

his final weeks and had approached death with integrity and courage,

said the Rev William Hofton, who conducted the ceremony.

Mr Hofton told the congregation: ''I rely on the fact that God has the

most wonderful sense of humour. Anyone who gets given the gift of

laughter and humour will be a very welcome guest in heaven.''

He imagined the comedian whispering his life story in God's ear and

bringing ''a wonderful smile'' to his face.

Chris Tarrant, Mike Read, Paul Gambaccini, and Tony Blackburn joined

members of Everett's family, including his ex-wife, Lee, for the

ceremony.

The comedian's parents, Thomas and Elizabeth, who live in Perth,

Western Australia, were unable to attend but his sister, Mrs Kate

Horgan, who made the journey from Australia to nurse him in his last

weeks, was there, along with her husband, Conor, and daughter Joanna,

who recited bidding prayers.

Many of Kenny Everett's friends and former colleagues entered the

church by the back door to avoid publicity -- his family had been keen

to keep the service low key.

His manager and friend, Jo Gurnett, who was with him when he died,

read the lesson. Hymns included The Lord's My Shepherd and songs from

the choir in Latin.

Other friends who attended the funeral, which was followed by a

cremation, included TV presenter Noel Edmonds, DJs Alan Freeman and

David Hamilton, actress Patricia Hayes, DJ comedian Christopher Biggins,

and hypnotist Paul McKenna.

The Liverpool-born DJ began his career on the sixties' pirate station,

Radio London, working at Radio Luxembourg and Radio One before joining

London's Capital Radio in the 70s. In his hit TV shows of the 1980s he

played a number of wacky characters, including busty blonde Cupid Stunt

and biker Sid Snot.

Two years before he died, he acknowledged publicly that he was HIV

positive -- but he never lost his sense of humour.

* Other high-profile figures from the world of entertainment to have

succumbed to Aids include rock singer Freddie Mercury, who lived near

Everett in Kensington, ice skater John Curry, and Chariots of Fire star

Ian Charleson.