Laughter and tears as Dale gets showbiz send-off
Godsons and impressionist at funeral
THE showbiz world gathered to give Dale Winton the star-studded sendoff he would have wanted on what would have been his 63rd birthday yesterday.
There were plenty of tears and laughs during the service at a former church near where the Supermarket Sweep presenter lived for many years.
Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan said after the humanist ceremony, which ended with cham- pagne and canapes in the gallery: “I think Dale would have loved it.” Dale’s pal Claire Sweeney performed twice, singing Alfie, the song made famous by Cilla Black, plus Dusty Springfield’s Going Back. Blue sang their biggest hit, One Lov e, Mar t ine McCutcheon read the poignant poem What Should Life Be? and David Walliams did a reading of another of Springfield’s hits, If You Go. But the tears flowed most freely during a moving tribute from LOVED TV host Dale
Dale’s teenage godsons, Josh, Ben and Louis Linsey, the children of former BBC entertainment boss, Mark Linsey, who was one of Dale’s closest friends.
Morgan said: “To have that kind of profound effect on boys of that age is quite an unusual thing and they were all clearly very, very close to him. We all got quite emotional.
“The whole thing was perfectly pitched and beautifully organised, just as Dale would have wanted.”
There was also lots of laughter at the service in Central London as friends recalled fun times with the star. Matthew Wright said many of the anecdotes had been about Dale’s flashy cars. “He used to wave to members of the public and point at his new Bentley and say, ‘It’s new!’.” Saying he would miss his “fantastic friend” immensely, Wright added: “There’s never going to be another Dale Winton, you look at how hard they’re struggling to find people to do it, the next generation.” He said “the best bit” of the service was impressionist Jon Culshaw’s poem tribute, which he partly performed in Dale’s voice.
Anthea Turner called the service “the most beautiful hour-and-ahalf ” but joked that Dale would have wanted “more champagne”.
Vanessa Feltz, who attended with partner Ben Ofoedu, said Dale would be “properly missed”.
Gloria Hunniford said she was glad to get the opportunity to bid Dale a proper farewell. “And that’s why today is very special,” she added. “We all got a chance to say our own small goodbye.”
Christopher Biggins said Winton “would have loved” the celeb- studded turn-out at the funeral, because “showbusiness was his life”.
Dame Barbara Windsor, 80, Dale’s close pal who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, would have been there “if she could”, Biggins said.
Tony Blackburn said he would remember Dale as “a great guy”.
Other celebrities who attended to pay their respects included Matt Lucas and Gaby Roslin.
Dale died at home in Totteridge, North London, on April 18. Pals said he struggled with depression and had never got over splitting from his American boyfriend two years ago.