MAGICIAN Paul Daniels was laid to rest at a private funeral service for family and close friends.
His white coffin adorned with two joker cards, red roses and a silver wand on a blue pillow was carried into the Milton Chapel at the Chilterns Crematorium in Amersham after arriving in a hearse.
There was also a note from the 77-year-old entertainer’s widow Debbie McGee which read: “Love you always, Debbie.”
About 200 people attended the 30-minute service, which featured some of the magicians’ favourite songs, including Mr Bojangles and Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.
The mourners included his three sons, Paul, Gary and Martin, and his first wife Jacqueline Skipworth as well as actress Bonnie Langford, comedian Barry Cryer and TV presenter Gloria Hunniford.
Friday’s funeral was followed by a wake at Daniels’s riverside home in Wargrave.
Speaking on Sunday, McGee thanked the public for the messages and letters of support since her husband died last month.
She said: “On Friday we had Paul’s funeral and we were even lucky the weather was good then. Yesterday [Saturday] would have been my 28th wedding anniversary. I got through that. I went out and celebrated with lunch with my sister and friends and that’s what you’ve got to do.
“You have got to put on your bravest face and just get on with life and that is what I am trying to do at the moment.”
Daniels died at his home last month just weeks after announcing he had an inoperable brain tumour. Doctors at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading said surgery would not prolong his life.
A public memorial service is due to take place later.
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