I couldn’t even be with Eddie in his final moments
OVER DEATH OF COMIC LEGEND
including the grandkids, got to speak to him that day, which was great. No matter how bad he got, Eddie’s biggest concern was always for others. He kept saying, ‘It’s a terrible thing going on out there. How is everyone doing?’
“His nephew had passed away with coronavirus, but I didn’t want to upset him so I told him everyone was OK.”
Now Patsy is busy planning Eddie’s funeral. She will be there with son Ryan, 37, and his sisters Samantha and Alison from the comic’s first marriage to Sandra Bigwood.
One of Eddie’s two remaining siblings will be there, too.
Patsy said: “Ryan has raised the idea of streaming it live online so everyone can share in it.” She is planning a huge memorial service to be held after the
EDDIE’S son Ryan says his dying dad filled his days in hospital laughing with nurses and visitors.
“He’s meant to be at death’s door and he’s still messing about telling jokes,” said Ryan, 37.
“He used to show the young nurses a photo of himself and Syd with Ant and Dec because they were all thinking ‘who lockdown ends so Eddie’s wider family and friends can pay their respects.
She said: “We were desperate to throw Eddie a big funeral – but we want to celebrate his life and for people to be able to have a good time.
“Eddie was all about making people laugh and it’ll be nice to have all his friends and family together telling stories about his life. He’d want people
is this guy messing about telling me jokes?’.“he’d say, ‘Patsy, get the photo out. See if they recognise anybody!’”
Ryan says he and the family have been touched by all the tributes to Eddie they have received from stars including Jimmy Tarbuck and Bobby Davro. He adds: “I just wish he was here to see it and I could tell him about it. He was a great dad.”
Millions loved Eddie and Syd to remember the good times and have people laughing.”
Eddie left some instructions with Patsy about his send-off, insisting it be upbeat.
He wanted her to play Leona Lewis hit Run – which includes the chorus: “Light up, light up, As if you have a choice, Even if you cannot hear my voice, I’ll be right beside you, dear.”
Patsy broke down with emotion as she recalled: “He said the lyrics represented how he felt about me.”
Man City fan Eddie also wanted a rock version of club anthem Blue
Coronavirus kept Patsy from love of her life’s bedside
Moon to be played as mourners leave. Patsy wants to scatter his ashes at City’s ground. She is also planning to play a recording of the Little & Large theme tune made by fan Steve Rosenberg, BBC’S Moscow correspondent
Today Patsy will collect Eddie’s wedding ring and his belongings from the hospital. “He was a wonderful husband,” she says. “I still can’t believe he’s gone.” Yesterday his grieving pal Syd told us: “We were together 60 years. It wasn’t like having a partner. We were friends.”
patrick.hill@mirror.co.uk
WIDOW PATSY ON AGONY OF EDDIE’S LIFELONG FRIEND