Tears, tributes and a few laughs as Janey Godley laid to rest

Mourners, who included former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and stars of the comedy circuit, stage and screen were at the funeral. Some wore an array of colourful outfits, fulfilling Godley’s request. 

Ashley Storrie (right) arriving for the funeral of her mother (Image: PA) Godley died at the age of 63 on November 2 after receiving palliative treatment for terminal cancer. 

The comedian created voiceover parodies of Ms Sturgeon’s coronavirus news briefings during the pandemic, and the pair became friends. 

READ MORE: 

• Fearless Scots comedian Janey Godley lived and died on her own terms
• Janey Godley awarded honorary doctorate from University of Glasgow
• Scottish stand-up comedian Janey Godley dies aged 63

Following Godley’s death at 63 earlier this month after receiving palliative treatment for terminal cancer, the former SNP leader described her as “a force of nature” and “one of the funniest people I have ever known”. 

Beginning the service, the vicar said the comedian would be remembered with “kindness and with love” and added that “forgiveness” would be among the themes of the service. 

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon leaving following the funeral (Image: PA) Storrie, 38, who is also a comedian, screenwriter and radio presenter, said: “My mum is very grateful to all of you who came out yesterday to Edinburgh and lined the Royal Mile and lifted your voices in song, and the people who’ve come today to remember her in the best way possible. 

“My mum was very much a daughter of Glasgow, she loved her city dearly, it was her favourite place in the whole wide world. 

“The emblem of Glasgow is the tree that never grew, and the bell that never rang, and the bird that never flew, and the fish that never swam, and I think she took that as a challenge.” 

She added: “It felt like the world was telling her, be quiet, stay small, don’t get big, so she did the opposite. She ventured far from her shore, she swam very far indeed.

“She travelled across the world where she found people who loved her in every corner, in New Zealand and Australia and Canada.

“And we once went to a place called Salt Spring Island, where we ended up staying with women who stole credit cards and ran a crab shop. We had to do a gig there, so it was tax deductible."

Janey Godley in 2021 (Image: PA) Ms Storrie said: “She never quieted, no matter how many people told her, I remember one of my earliest memories of my mum is her standing behind the bar and people telling her, ‘you talk too much’, and her talking more just to spite them, and she grew bigger than she could have possibly imagined.”

Becoming emotional as she finished her speech, she told mourners: “For one last time, can you please put your hands together, for my ma, Janey Godley.”

Afterwards, Ms Sturgeon said the Glasgow service "encapsulated Janey perfectly".

She added: "She was a special woman, she was so close to my heart. She’ll be a greatly missed.

"A lot of tears in the church but also a lot of laughter, and that’s how she would want to be remembered - with joy and laughter."

Also in attendance was actor Gavin Mitchell, who played Bobby the barman in BBC sitcom Still Game.

Gavin Mitchell (centre) arriving for the funeral (Image: PA)

Some mourners wore colourful clothes, which Godley had asked for (Image: PA)

A prayer Godley wrote as a child was read out during the proceedings, and a vicar told the story of how he met her when she wanted to look in the church, but was worried it would “fall down” when she entered due to her jokes about religion.

He said she had been “making lists” of people she wanted to forgive before her death.

The vicar added: “Janey Godley died having forgiven everyone, but she still believed to her dying day that (Donald) Trump is a country mile away from being anyone who should ever have come near to power.”

The comment was greeted with cheers and applause from mourners, after Godley was photographed at Turnberry golf resort with her infamous “unwelcome” sign for the incoming US president in 2016.

Janey Godley with her sign welcoming Donald Trump to Turnberry (Image: PA) As the funeral was brought to a close, her catchphrase "Frank, get the door", which was part of her voiceover parodies of Ms Sturgeon’s coronavirus news briefings, was played over the PA system and the doors of the church were opened.

During the service, a vicar remarked of her pandemic videos and jokes: “It’s no exaggeration to say that it’s likely there are people alive today because of Janey Godley, because of funny wee videos, and because of the truth she told on stage.

“Because she kept them going through lockdown, and because people were able to make use of the advice that they were being given through what she said.”

Her funeral comes on the same day as a memorial service for former first minister and SNP leader Alex Salmond at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.