Paul O’Grady’s funeral will take place in his home village in Kent later, with fans set to line the streets along with dogs from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.
Paul O’Grady’s funeral will take place in his hometown of Aldington, Kent, where many of his admirers will assemble to offer their respects. They will lay the comedian and host, who passed away last month at the age of 67, to rest in a private ceremony.
Michael Cashman, a renowned actor and peer, has stated that he will read Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 at O’Grady’s funeral as a sign of his affection and respect for the longtime Kent resident. They anticipate that they will transport his coffin through the village using a horse-drawn conveyance.
His spouse, Andre Portasio, invited the local school and community to a funeral service by posting on local Facebook groups. He acknowledged the “overwhelming outpouring of support and love” he had received.
A guard of honour from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, with whom O’Grady collaborated for more than a decade, will be present as a tribute to O’Grady.He filmed his popular television series For the Love of Dogs here, and the charity has raised more than £270,000 through a memorial fund since his death.
O’Grady was well-known for his drag queen character, Lily Savage, and for hosting chat and game programmes.
According to reports, he died abruptly due to cardiac arrhythmia. The British Heart Foundation defines sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) as the sudden death of an individual following a cardiac arrest for which there is no apparent cause.
Later today, Paul O’Grady’s family will gather in Aldington, Kent, to pay their final goodbyes and celebrate his life. Anticipated queues of fans and dogs from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home will show their respect for the comedian who brought so much joy to so many people.
Lord Cashman, a friend of O’Grady’s, will recite Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 at the funeral, and his widower Andre Portasio has invited the local school and community to attend. A guard of honour from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home will represent his role as an ambassador for the animal shelter and his connection to the organisation through his popular television series.
The charity has raised over £270,000 through Battersea since establishing the tribute fund after his death, and the community event is expected to draw fans lining the streets of Birkenhead.
Reports state that SADS (sudden arrhythmic death syndrome) caused O’Grady’s sudden death.A person experiences SADS when their heart stops beating for no apparent reason.
Today is a sad day for fans of one of Britain’s most beloved comedians, Paul O’Grady, as they bid goodbye.
