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DJ Casey Kasem’s body has been flown to Canada from a Washington state funeral home, his longtime former agent announced on Wednesday.
Casey Kasem, the former host of the syndicated program American Top 40, was moved to Canada by his wife, Jean Kasem, his agent Don Pitts said, after being kept at the Gaffney Funeral Home in Tacoma, Washington. He died on June 15 at the age of 82.
Candace Corkum, administrative manager for the funeral home, confirmed last Friday that Casey Kasem’s body was no longer at the facility.
Casey Kasem had been the focus of a dispute between his three children from his first marriage – Kerri, Julie and Mike – and his second wife, Jean Kasem.
Casey Kasem’s body was moved to Canada by his wife, Jean Kasem (photo Getty Images)
The children said Jean Kasem prevented them from visiting him as he suffered from Lewy body dementia, an illness with symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease.
Casey Kasem had wanted to be buried at Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, California, said Danny Deraney, a spokesman for the siblings.
Danny Deraney said that while Casey Kasem’s wife has the legal right to move the remains without notifying anyone, she should let his friends and family know.
“Right now, she’s not divulging that location. For what reasons, I don’t know,” Danny Deraney said.
A Washington state judge on July 16 forbade movement of the body from the funeral home based on a request by Kerri Kasem to have an autopsy conducted to investigate suspicions of elder abuse, Danny Deraney said.
The order was delivered to the home a day after Casey Kasem’s body was moved, CNN reported.
A spokesman for the Santa Monica Police Department said there was an open and ongoing probe into allegations of elder abuse, but declined to provide further detail.
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A legal wrangle amongst DJ Casey Kasem’s family has delayed the radio legend’s burial a month after his death.
A Washington state judge granted a temporary court order to Casey Kasem’s daughter, preventing his second wife from removing his remains from a funeral home in Tacoma.
Kerri Kasem is seeking authorization for a post-mortem on her father.
Casey Kasem was a voiceover artist and host of the American Top 40, and the voice of Shaggy in the Scooby-Doo cartoons.
He died on June 15 after suffering from a form of dementia, with his care at the centre of a serious rift between his family.
DJ Casey Kasem died on June 15 after suffering from a form of dementia, with his care at the centre of a serious rift between his family (photo Getty Images)
Before Casey Kasem’s death, a judge granted an order allowing his daughter to withhold food, liquids and medication from him against the wishes of his wife of 34 years.
Kerri Kasem has expressed concerns that his body could be cremated or taken to Canada by his widow Jean, negating the possibility of a post-mortem.
Jean Kasem has rights over his remains, while his daughter held the medical conservatorship in the final part of his life.
A small, private memorial service for Casey Kasem was held in California last month, but his second wife and their daughter Liberty did not attend.
The children from the 82-year-old’s first marriage are hoping to bury him in California in accordance with his final wishes.
The judge moved to ensure Casey Kasem’s body was not taken from the funeral home while a decision is being considered about allowing a post-mortem examination to take place.
Casey Kasem began his career in the 1950s and found fame with the chart program.
He famously ended his broadcasts with his signature sign-off: “Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.”
After spells hosting countdown shows under other titles, Casey Kasem returned to American Top 40 in the 1990s and retired from the airwaves in 2009.
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A memorial for the late DJ Casey Kasem has been held in Bel Air, Los Angeles.
Mourners at the small, private ceremony in Bel Air heard recordings of Casey Kasem’s old radio shows, including his famous American Top 40.
Casey Kasem died in Washington state last week, aged 82.
Casey Kasem had suffered from Lewy body disease, a form of dementia
He had suffered from Lewy body disease, a form of dementia, and had recently been at the centre of a bitter family court battle over his care.
Casey Kasem’s death came days after a judge allowed the star’s daughter Kerri to withhold food, liquid and medication from her father against the wishes of his wife of 34 years, Jean.
Between 100 and 150 mourners attended the memorial on Saturday at Bel Air Protestant Church, including Casey Kasem’s adult children, family spokesman Danny Deraney told TheWrap.
Casey Kasem’s second wife, Jean, and their daughter, Liberty, were not present.
“The children – Kerri, Mike, Julie and Julie’s daughters – gave speeches, in addition to his close friends and brother,” Danny Deraney said.
Many of Casey Kasem’s former radio colleagues also attended, while pop music arranger David Campbell played a violin version of Stephen Sondheim’s Send in the Clowns, one of Kasem’s favorite songs.
Peter O’Toole was laid to rest at a funeral in London on Saturday.
Peter O’Toole’s funeral service, attended by his ex-wife, actress Sian Phillips, took place at Golders Green Crematorium in north London, and was followed by a wake at the actor’s home. Attendees included pop star Sting and Alabama 3.
Peter O’Toole was laid to rest at a funeral in London
During the funeral, Peter O’Toole’s daughter, Kate, addressed the congregation and said of her father: “The world has lost a great actor, but I’m not concerned with that. I simply have lost a great dad and the best friend I ever had. Daddy made me laugh more than anyone else I have ever met in my life.”
Peter O’Toole passed away on December 14 aged 81.
Around 50 of Paul Walker’s friends and family gathered at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles to pay their respects to the Fast and the Furious star, two weeks after the fiery car crash that killed him.
“A few people got up and gave tributes to Paul. It was hard for many people to talk, they were in tears and couldn’t finish what they were saying,” an eyewitness told Us Weekly.
The 40-minute service was a “somber” affair with a large picture of Paul Walker, who was 40 at the time of his death, standing on an easel and white flowers surrounding the gravesite.
Paul Walker and his friend Roger Rodas died on November 30 after their 2005 Porsche Carrera GT collided with a lamp post
“It was a really sad day for so many people, and you could tell they just weren’t ready to say goodbye,” the eyewitness said.
“His parents were there, along with his brothers and some other family members. Everyone was hugging each other tight and didn’t want to let go.”
Paul Walker and his friend Roger Rodas died on November 30 after their 2005 Porsche Carrera GT collided with a lamp post. Roger Rodas was behind the wheel at the time of the accident.
Paul Walker and Roger Rodas had attended a charity event moments prior to the crash.
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Paul Walker’s remains will be put to rest on Saturday – two weeks after he was killed in a tragic car accident.
Paul Walker, 40, and his friend Roger Rodas died on November 30 when their Porsche Carrera GT burst into flames, after hitting a utility pole and a tree in Santa Clarita, California.
According to autopsy results, Paul Walker died of “combined effects of traumatic and thermal injuries” and his friend of “multiple traumatic injuries”.
Radar Online reported that Paul Walker’s body was shifted from the mortuary at Hollywood’s Forest Lawn Memorial Park to a crematory in Glendale, ahead of the funeral service, and the burial will take place on Saturday.
Paul Walker’s body was shifted from the mortuary at Hollywood’s Forest Lawn Memorial Park to a crematory in Glendale, ahead of the funeral service
A source close to Paul Walker’s family had earlier told TMZ that the funeral service would be a private affair, keeping in mind the actor’s 15-year-old daughter Meadow, who is devastated by the sudden death of her father. The family does not want Meadow to be surrounded by strangers at a time when she is grieving the loss.
However, the Fast & Furious cast and crew would be there, as they were like family to Paul Walker.
Universal Pictures had earlier announced that Fast & Furious 7 production would be halted following the demise of Paul Walker, who played a vital role in the franchise’s films.
Nelson Mandela’s body has arrived in his ancestral home in Qunu in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa, the final leg of its journey before burial.
Large numbers of people lined the roads in the rural region to pay their respects as the cortege passed by.
A state funeral will be held on Sunday, December 15, for South Africa’s first black president, who died on December 5.
The coffin was flown from Waterkloof airbase in Pretoria on a C130 military aircraft, escorted by two fighter jets.
In line with tribal custom, Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla accompanied him on the journey, speaking to his coffin to tell him he was on his way home to rest.
It arrived in Mthatha, 450 miles away at 13:37 local.
Nelson Mandela’s coffin has arrived in his ancestral home in Qunu
To solemn music, the coffin draped in a South African flag was moved by a military guard of honor and placed in a hearse to begin the 20 miles journey to Qunu, where Nelson Mandela had said he wanted to be buried.
People waving flags and cheering and singing – in places 10 to 12 deep – lined the route taken by the cortege through Mthatha town to pay their last respects.
Tears as well as smiles could be seen on the faces of onlookers.
The cortege then drove through the gates of the Mandela homestead in Qunu, where it will rest overnight in the grounds of the royal house of Thembu.
The Thembu community will conduct a traditional ceremony – including songs and poems about Nelson Mandela’s life and his achievements – in a giant white marquee that has been specially erected.
Some 4,000 people, including presidents from Africa, several prime ministers, the Iranian vice-president, and the Prince of Wales, are expected to attend.
However, Archbishop Desmond Tutu – a long-time friend of Nelson Mandela – has cancelled arrangements to fly to the Eastern Cape for the funeral after saying he had not been invited.
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Barack and Michelle Obama will travel to South Africa to attend the memorial service for Nelson Mandela on Tuesday.
The memorial service on Tuesday, December 10, is part of a week of official observances that will culminate in a state funeral a week from Sunday.
Barack Obama will travel to South Africa to attend the memorial service for Nelson Mandela
The official events honoring Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday, December 5, at the age of 95, begin on Sunday, when the government will observe a national day of prayer and reflection.
On Sunday, December 15, a funeral service and interment ceremony will take place at Nelson Mandela’s home and final resting place at Qunu in the Eastern Cape.
The South Africa’s government has released an updated schedule of official observances in honor of Nelson Mandela, culminating in a state funeral a week from Sunday.
Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane released the new details and said that the government would work closely with Nelson Mandela’s family “to ensure that all events conform to the family’s wishes and are culturally compliant”.
The official events honoring Mandela begin on Sunday, December 8, when the government will observe a national day of prayer and reflection “in which South Africans will celebrate the life of Mandela and his legacy in places of worship, homes and communities”, Collins Chabane said.
Nelson Mandela’s funeral service and interment ceremony will take place at his home
On Tuesday, December 10, an official memorial service for Nelson Mandela will be held at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, also known as the Soccer City stadium, the site of the 2010 World Cup final. The ceremony will be attended by members of the public and by a number of visiting heads of state and government, though Collins Chabane said the list of world leaders that would attend had not yet been finalized.
Nelson Mandela’s body will lie in state in an open casket at the Union Buildings, the official seat of the South African government, from Wednesday through Friday, with viewing open to “South Africans and selected international visitors and guests”, Collins Chabane said.
He also said Nelson Mandela’s remains would be transported daily between a nearby military hospital and the Union Buildings. South Africans wishing to view the late president’s remains will be shuttled from two yet-to-be named locations to the Unions Building.
On Saturday, December 14, Nelson Mandela’s body will be moved to the Eastern Cape province, where members of the ruling African National Congress party will bid him farewell. Later, a procession will take place from Mthatha to Qunu, where the Thembu community, of which Nelson Mandela was a member, will conduct a traditional ceremony.
On Sunday, December 15, a funeral service and interment ceremony will take place at Nelson Mandela’s home and final resting place at Qunu in the Eastern Cape.
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The South African government has announced that a funeral cortege bearing Nelson Mandela’s body will travel through the streets of Pretoria daily on three days before his burial next Sunday.
The government said the cortege will leave a morgue on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning to go to the Union Buildings where his body will lie in state.
Mourners are being encouraged to line the route.
Meanwhile, vigils for the former leader are continuing across South Africa.
Hundreds of mourners have gathered outside Nelson Mandela’s home in Johannesburg’s northern suburb of Houghton where he died, and thousands of flowers and candles have been laid outside.
Nelson Mandela – South Africa’s first black president – died on Thursday evening aged 95.
A funeral cortege bearing Nelson Mandela’s body will travel through the streets of Pretoria daily on three days before his burial
On Saturday, the government published further details of the 10-day state funeral, saying as many people as possible would be given the opportunity to pay their last respects.
On Tuesday, an official memorial service will be held at the FNB Stadium on the outskirts of Johannesburg.
When the three days of lying in state are over, Nelson Mandela’s body will then be flown from an air force base in Pretoria to Qunu in the Eastern Cape for burial.
Qunu is where Nelson Mandela grew up and later retired to.
Flags at all official buildings will fly at half mast throughout the period and books of condolence are being circulated across the country and online for people to post tributes, record memories and express their emotions.
Sunday has been designated an official day of prayer and reflection and President Jacob Zuma urged South Africans to go to stadiums, halls, churches, temples or synagogues.
“We should, while mourning, also sing at the top of our voices, dance and do whatever we want to do, to celebrate the life of this outstanding revolutionary who kept the spirit of freedom alive and led us to a new society. Let us sing for Madiba,” Jacob Zuma said, using Nelson Mandela’s clan name.
Meanwhile, a government statement recalled Nelson Mandela’s own thoughts when asked how he wished to be remembered.
“It would be very egotistical of me to say how I would like to be remembered,” Nelson Mandela said.
“I’d leave that entirely to South Africans. I would just like a simple stone on which is written, <<Mandela>>.”
Family, friends and fans have paid tribute to James Gandolfini at his funeral in New York City, a week after he died in Italy.
David Chase, who created The Sopranos series that made James Gandolfini a household name was among the speakers.
“You were a good boy,” he said during the ceremony at New York’s Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine.
James Gandolfini, who was 51, died following a heart attack last Wednesday while on holiday with his son.
One of four speakers at the funeral, David Chase remembered James Gandolfini in the form of a letter to the actor, in the present tense, saying he brought the traits of a sad boy, “amazed and confused,” to the role of Tony Soprano.
“You could see it in your eyes. That’s why you were a great actor.”
Family, friends and fans have paid tribute to James Gandolfini at his funeral in New York City
David Chase recalled that James Gandolfini once told him: “You know what I want to be? A man. That’s all. I want to be a man.”
David Chase said he marveled upon hearing that, since the actor represented a man so many others wanted to be.
James Gandolfini’s widow, Deborah Lin, and two family friends also spoke during the service.
The actor’s portrayal of the mob boss in the HBO series won him three Emmy Awards as best actor in a drama series. The show ran for six seasons.
Aida Turturro, who played James Gandolfini’s sister in The Sopranos, was one of the first from the show’s large cast to arrive for the funeral service at 10:00 EST, which was led by the Very Reverend Dr. James A Kowalski.
Some 1,500 seats had been set up in the church for celebrities, fellow actors and members of the public who wanted to pay their respects to the star.
Several members of the cast of The Sopranos attended, including Edie Falco, Joe Pantoliano, Dominic Chianese, and Steve Buscemi.
The New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie also made an appearance.
Laila Robins, who played James Gandolfini’s on-screen mother as a young woman in the early seasons, remembered his friendly and humble nature.
“He had an acting coach on set back then because he just wanted to do a good job. That was so sweet, and I remember that about him the most – just how badly he wanted to do a good job. He worked so hard,” she said.
The funeral took place a day after a private family wake was held in New Jersey on Wednesday.
Broadway theatres later paid tribute to James Gandolfini, who was nominated for a Tony Award in 2009 for his role in God of Carnage, by dimming their lights.
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Serbia is holding a state funeral for Yugoslavia’s last king, Peter II, and three other members of his family.
King Peter II acceded to the throne in 1941, aged 17, but fled 11 days later when the Nazis invaded Yugoslavia. He never returned and died in the US in 1970.
The funeral is also being held for his wife, Queen Alexandria, his mother Queen Maria, and brother Prince Andrew.
After the memorial service, they will be buried in the family mausoleum.
Serb leaders and foreign dignitaries were attending Sunday’s service, at St George’s Church in Oplenac, near Belgrade.
The coffins of the four members of the royal family were laid out in the centre of the church before they were to be placed in the crypt, alongside their ancestors.
King Peter II had originally been interred in Libertyville, Illinois, his wife in Greece and his mother near Windsor Castle in the UK.
Serbia is holding a state funeral for Yugoslavia’s last king, Peter II, and three other members of his family
President Tomislav Nikolic and Prime Minister Ivica Dacic were both involved in the preparations for the funeral.
Although modern-day Serbia has the royal coat of arms on its flag, the attitudes of Serbs towards their old royal family is hard to gauge.
Peter went to school in England but returned home aged 11 when his father, King Alexander I, was assassinated in France in 1934. His brother, Prince Pavle, became Prince Regent until he was overthrown in a military coup for signing a non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany.
For almost 50 years it was part of socialist Yugoslavia. At the end of World War II, Iosip Broz Tito’s communists abolished the monarchy.
“Most people would say it’s doing historical justice to a dynasty that was chased away from Serbia in 1945,” says historian Vladimir Dulovic.
“Except maybe today, by spending 50 years out of the country, they’ve grown a little too foreign for us.”
King Peter II’s son, Alexander Karadjordjevic, often described as crown prince, moved to Serbia in 2001.
An enthusiastic promoter of constitutional monarchy for Serbia, Alexander Karadjordjevic argues that a king removed from the country’s sometimes fractious politics would be a stabilizing figure.
However, According to a recent newspaper poll, only around 40% of Serbs agree.
In October 2012, three other members of Yugoslavia’s former royal family were exhumed in Switzerland and reburied in the Oplenac church crypt.
Yugoslavia’s royal family:
- 1804 Founder of dynasty, Djordje Petrovic, known as Karadjordjevic or “Black George”, leads Serb uprising against Ottomans
- 1811 Karadjordjevic confirmed as ruler
- 1918 Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes proclaimed
- 1929 Kingdom of Yugoslavia declared
- 1934 King Alexander I assassinated in Marseille
- 1941 King Peter II goes into exile
- 1945 Crown Prince Alexander II born in London. Iosip Broz Tito’s communists abolish monarchy
- 1970 Peter II dies in US
Thousands of mourners are attending the funeral of renowned author Chinua Achebe in his Nigerian home town of Ogidi in Anambra state.
Chinua Achebe’s body arrived back in Nigeria on Wednesday from the US, where he died in March at the age of 82.
Relatives and officials were at Enugu airport in southern Nigeria as the coffin was lowered from the plane.
Chinua Achebe is widely regarded as the founding father of African literature in English.
His 1958 debut novel, Things Fall Apart, which dealt with the impact of colonialism in Africa, has sold more than 10 million copies.
Writer and academic Chinua Achebe went on to write more than 20 works – some fiercely critical of politicians and what he described as a failure of leadership in Nigeria.
He had been living in the US since 1990 after a car crash left him partially paralyzed and in a wheelchair, returning to Nigeria infrequently.
Thousands of mourners are attending the funeral of renowned author Chinua Achebe in his Nigerian home town of Ogidi in Anambra state
Chinua Achebe is being given a colorful, grand send off in his home town of Ogidi.
Much of what he abhorred is on full display at the service – political patronage and the trappings of power, he says.
Local politicians were escorted into the church by men from the State Security Service wielding sophisticated weapons while a large number of men and women came dressed head to toe in political party outfits.
Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan and Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama flew in by helicopter to attend the service at the packed Anglican church in Ogidi.
Thousands of mourners are following proceedings from huge marquees erected outside.
Although people are mourning, the life of the influential Nigerian writer is also being celebrated, our reporter says.
“I left my house in Asaba [a nearby city] at 05:00 this morning in order to pay my last respects for this illustrious son of Nigeria who has done his people proud,” said Sylvanus John, a 31-year-old engineer, AFP news agency reports.
Chinua Achebe’s body will be buried near his family’s home in Ogidi, a small town in the hills of Anambra state, later on Thursday.
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The funeral of the murdered vice-president of Pakistan’s PTI party, Zahra Shahid Hussain, has been held at a mosque in the country’s capital, Karachi.
Zahra Shahid Hussain was shot dead outside her home in Karachi by gunmen on a motorcycle.
PTI leader Imran Khan has blamed one of his political rivals for the killing.
On his Twitter feed, Imran Khan said he was holding the leader of Karachi’s dominant MQM party, Altaf Hussain, responsible for her death – a claim the MQM has strongly denied.
It came as Karachi voted in a partial re-run of Pakistan’s general election.
Police are investigating whether Zahra Shahid Hussain’s killing was the result of an attempted robbery or a politically motivated murder.
Doctors at Karachi’s Jinnah Hospital havesaid their initial examination showed two bullet marks on her body. A full post-mortem report is expected to be released.
Imran Khan, a former captain of Pakistan’s cricket team, said Altaf Hussain, who is in self-imposed exile in London, had “openly threatened PTI workers and leaders through public broadcasts”.
He said he was also holding the British government responsible, as he said he had warned it about Altaf Hussain.
Imran Khan tweeted his accusations from his hospital bed, where he is recovering from a back injury sustained during a fall at an election rally in Lahore.
Last week, police in London confirmed they were investigating complaints that Altaf Hussain had broken UK laws by issuing threats in a speech he made the day after the vote.
In response to accusations of electoral fraud, he is alleged to have threatened his accusers with violence.
The funeral of the murdered vice-president of Pakistan’s PTI party, Zahra Shahid Hussain, has been held at a mosque in Karachi
Altaf Hussain and his supporters say that his remarks were taken out of context. He has lived in the UK since 1991, saying his life would be at risk if he returned to Pakistan.
MQM spokesman Mohammad Anwar said that Imran Khan’s comments were the “groundless, baseless” accusations of a man who had suffered a bitter, unexpected loss in the election.
He said there was only one reason that Imran Khan could have issued a statement of blame just minutes after the killing: “He is behind the murder. He is the mastermind.”
Last Sunday’s electoral re-run in Karachi was ordered after Imran Khan’s party accused the MQM of widespread vote-rigging and intimidation.
The MQM – which took most of the seats in Karachi – denies any irregularities and is boycotting the vote, which is taking place under tight security.
Voter turn-out appeared slow but steady.
The PTI is hoping to win the vote and make inroads in Pakistan’s commercial capital.
Whatever the outcome of the re-run, it will not overturn the overall result of last week’s vote, in which conservative leader Nawaz Sharif secured an unprecedented third term in power.
The MQM is seen as a perpetrator – as well as a victim – of violence in Karachi.
Since the 1980s, it has won every election it has contested there.
But it also stands widely accused of ruling Karachi by fear and through vote-rigging.
The general election on May 11 marked the first transition of power from one democratically elected government since the creation of the state of Pakistan in 1947.
However, the campaign was marred by violence in which about 150 people were killed across the country.
The MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) is supported mainly by Muslim Urdu-speaking people whose families moved to Sindh province at the time of the partition of India in 1947.
Voting in Karachi on May 11 was disrupted by a bomb attack outside the office of the ANP party, in which 11 people were killed and more than 40 injured.
The bombing happened in the Landhi district of Karachi, where Taliban militants are known to be active.
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President Barack Obama decided not to dispatch any high-ranking members of his administration to former British PM Margaret Thatcher’s funeral on Wednesday, a move that has been heavily criticized on both sides of the pond.
According to the Associated Press, the White House sent ex-Secretaries of State George Shultz and James A. Baker III to lead the American delegation, which also includes Barbara Stephenson, the charge d’affaires at the US Embassy in London, and Louis Susman, former US ambassador to the UK.
British tabloid The Sun reported: “[…Downing] Street is most angered by rejections from Obama, First Lady Michelle and Vice-President Joe Biden. And none of the four surviving ex-US leaders – Jimmy Carter, George Bush Sr., Bill Clinton and George Bush Jr. – is coming either.”
“The response contrasts with glowing US tributes on the day Lady Thatcher died. A No 10 source said last night: <<We are a little surprised by the White House’s reaction as we were expecting a high-profile attendance>>. The <<snub>> came ahead of the Boston marathon <<bomb outrage>>.”
Barack Obama’s decision not to dispatch any high-ranking members of his administration to Margaret Thatcher’s funeral has been heavily criticized
However, British PM David Cameron’s spokesman refuted reports that the Obama administration snubbed Margaret Thatcher.
“Absolutely not and that the seniority of the America dignitaries attending was reflective of her global stature,” spokesman Jean-Christophe Gray told reporters on Tuesday.
“He welcomed the fact that two former Secretaries of State with whom Lady Thatcher had worked very closely were attending, saying it was testimony to the esteem in which she was held.”
Meanwhile the New York Post editorial page called the US representation “underwhelming.”
“As the world bids farewell to Lady Margaret Thatcher today, it’s hard not to notice that America’s official presence at the state funeral for England’s most significant prime minister since Winston Churchill will be underwhelming,” wrote The Post, which is owned by Margaret Thatcher’s ally Rupert Murdoch.
“Instead of sending a high-ranking member of his own administration to lead the official delegation, President Obama has dispatched two former Republican secretaries of state, George Shultz and Jim Baker. Nothing against these men, but we can forgive the British for regarding Obama’s choice as yet another snub.”
The kicker: “What makes Washington’s little acts of thoughtlessness so telling is that they attract more attention than doing the right thing would.”
UK’s The Guardian dubbed it a “distinctly low-key official representation”.
“The US is to send distinctly low-key official representation … While Barack Obama was invited, he has opted to send a presidential delegation comprising no serving politicians.”
Queen Elizabeth II has led mourners in St Paul’s Cathedral in London at the funeral of Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s longest serving prime minister of modern times.
More than 2,000 guests from around the world paid their last respects at the biggest such occasion since the Queen Mother’s funeral in 2002.
In total, two current heads of state, 11 serving prime ministers and 17 serving foreign ministers from around the world attended.
Notable absences were former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who could not attend due to ill health, and former US first lady Nancy Reagan, who was also unable to come.
Queen Elizabeth II has led mourners in St Paul’s Cathedral in London at the funeral of Margaret Thatcher
Invitees include:
- Prime Minister David Cameron
- Former Prime Minister Tony Blair and wife Cherie
- Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and wife Sarah
- Former Prime Minister Sir John Major
- Former South African President FW de Klerk
- Former US Secretary of State and Nobel Peace laureate Dr. Henry Kissinger
- Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband
- The first minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond
- The first minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones
- The first minister of Northern Ireland, Peter Robinson
- Lord and Lady Archer
- Chairman of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten
- London Olympic chief, Lord Sebastian Coe
- Margaret Thatcher’s former foreign policy adviser Lord Powell of Bayswater
- Former Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington
- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper
- Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney
- Former US Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne
- London Mayor Boris Johnson
- Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe
- Former Conservative minister Michael Portillo and wife Carolyn Eadie
- Former Czech President Vaclav Klaus and current Prime Minister Petr Necas
- US politician Newt Gingrich
- US politician Ross Perot
- Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard and his wife Janette
- Advertising executive and former Conservative Party chairman Lord Saatchi
- Conservative donor Lord Harris and Lady Harris
- Conservative peer, Baroness Trumpington
- Former Commons Speaker, Baroness Boothroyd
- Conservative peer, Baroness Bottomley
- Press baron, Lord Beaverbrook
- Former first minister of Northern Ireland, Lord David Trimble
- BBC director general, Lord Tony Hall
- Political commentator Sir Robert Worcester
- Conservative Sir Malcolm Rifkind
- Former Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Menzies Campbell
- Labour MP Frank Field
- Labour MP Keith Vaz
- Conservative MP Peter Lilley
- Conservative Lord Sterling of Plaistow
- Lady Annabel Goldsmith, the widow of Referendum Party founder Sir James Goldsmith
- Businessman and UK Independence Party treasurer Stuart Wheeler
- Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti
- Kuwait Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Saba
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk
- Crown Prince Pavlos and Princess Marie-Chantal of the Hellenes
- Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmed Al Sabah, son of the ruler of Kuwait
- Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis
- Former Dutch Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers
- Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
- Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards
- Former head of the Army General Sir Mike Jackson
- Field Marshal Lord Bramall
- Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Craig of Radley
- General Sir Peter Wall
- Field Marshal Sir John Chapple
- Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton
- Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach
- Major General Ed Davis
- Vice Admiral Sir Roy Newman
- Broadcaster Sir David Frost
- Broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald
- Broadcaster John Sargeant
- Lyricist Sir Tim Rice
- Actress June Whitfield
- Actress Joan Collins
- Broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan and Lady Wogan
- Singer Dame Shirley Bassey
- Broadcaster and journalist Jeremy Clarkson
- Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber
- Fashion designer Anya Hindmarch
- Former Antiques Roadshow presenter Hugh Scully
- Artist Michael Noakes
- Writer William Shawcross
- Lady Solti, the widow of conductor Sir Georg Solti
- JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford
- Senior civil servant Sir Alex Allan
- Singer Katherine Jenkins
- Web pioneer Sir Tim Berners-Lee
- Broadcaster Andrew Neil
- Actor Michael Crawford
- Chef Marco Pierre White
- Conservative Raymond Monbiot
- Williams Formula 1 team boss Sir Frank Williams
- Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre
- Businessman Gerald Ronson and Dame Gail Ronson
- Philip Woodhouse, Master of Grocers Hall
- Michael Cox, Master of the Worshipful Company of Vintners
- The Lord Grabiner QC, treasurer of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
- Mark Wood, chairman of the NSPCC
- Journalist Martyn Lewis
- Businessman Sir David and Lady Tang
- Stephen Boateng, of International Democrat Union
- Former UK ambassador Sir Leonard Appleyard
- Sir George Christie, chairman of Glyndebourne
- Hotelier George Goring
Among those not attending:
- Ronald Reagan’s widow Nancy is understood to be too frail to travel
- Former US Presidents George Bush Sr. and George W. Bush
- German Chancellor Angela Merkel did not attend and instead her government was represented by Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle
- Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, due to health problems
- Downing Street has confirmed that Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was not invited
- Argentina’s ambassador to London, Alicia Castro, has declined her invitation
- Lord Kinnock – former Labour leader of the opposition
- Media mogul Rupert Murdoch was invited along with other newspaper proprietors but has indicated he will not be coming
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A tight London security operation involving more than 4,000 police officers is under way for the funeral of former British PM Margaret Thatcher.
Margaret Thatcher’s coffin will travel from Westminster and be taken in procession through central London for the funeral at St Paul’s Cathedral at 11:00 BST.
Some 2,300 people, representing 170 countries, are expected to attend.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip will be among them.
Scotland Yard said it was expecting some protests along the funeral route.
Margaret Thatcher’s coffin will travel from Westminster and be taken in procession through central London for the funeral at St Paul’s Cathedral
Margaret Thatcher, who was Conservative Prime Minister from 1979 until 1990, died on April 8, following a stroke, at the age of 87.
Baroness Thatcher has been accorded a ceremonial funeral with military honors, one step down from a state funeral.
Police were out early on Wednesday with metal crowd control barriers in place along the main route in Westminster.
Margaret Thatcher’s coffin will initially travel by hearse from the Palace of Westminster, where it has lain overnight, to the Church of St Clement Danes – the Central Church of the RAF – on the Strand.
The coffin will then be transferred to a gun carriage to be drawn by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, who will lead it in procession to St Paul’s.
The processional route will be lined by more than 700 armed services personnel. A gun salute will be fired from the Tower of London every minute while the procession is taking place.
The Dean of St Paul’s said the funeral would be “relatively humble” in line with Margaret Thatcher’s wishes.
The Very Rev Dr David Ison said Margaret Thatcher had played a large part in planning the funeral over the past six years.
He said the “simple” service would be in contrast to the “pomp and ceremony” surrounding the transit of the coffin.
“Mrs. Thatcher wanted something that was very simple and it is not at all triumphalist,” he said.
“There is no eulogy, she is only mentioned once or twice in the service. It uses the book of common prayer, which is actually quite austere in places.”
As well as the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, all 32 members of the current cabinet will attend the service, along with more than 30 members of Margaret Thatcher’s cabinets from her time as prime minister.
There will be more than 50 guests associated with the Falkland Islands, including veterans from the 1982 conflict with Argentina, but Argentina’s ambassador to London, Alicia Castro, has declined an invitation to attend.
In total, two current heads of state, 11 serving prime ministers and 17 serving foreign ministers from around the world will attend.
Six police forces from outside London have sent specialist officers to help with escorting foreign dignitaries.
Various roads along the route were closed from 07:30 BST, and Transport for London (TfL) has advised drivers to avoid Westminster and the City of London. The roads are expected to be re-opened as soon as possible following the funeral.
Hours before the funeral, people began to gather outside the cathedral.
There were union jacks on display, as well as flags from the US, Canada, Scotland, Poland and the Falkland Islands.
The Metropolitan Police said it had been contacted by a small number of protesters to say they were planning action on the funeral route in protest at the impact of some of Margaret Thatcher’s policies while she was in power. Other protests are expected elsewhere.
Although Monday’s bomb attack at the Boston Marathon was not believed to have led to any significant changes in security for the funeral, it was expected that the police and public would be more vigilant.
Senior officers acknowledged they had a “difficult” balance to strike between allowing people to express their opinions and maintaining order.
Police have powers to arrest those who use “threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior”, but Scotland Yard said it was not for the police to “uphold respect”.
Margaret Thatcher’s union jack-draped coffin was placed in the Palace of Westminster’s Chapel of St Mary Undercroft overnight on Tuesday.
A short service, led by the Dean of Westminster, was held for members of the family, senior parliamentarians, and staff from Parliament and Downing Street.
The House of Commons speaker’s chaplain kept vigil in the chapel through the night.
The chimes of Big Ben will be silenced for the duration of Margaret Thatcher’s funeral.
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Invitations to the funeral of former British PM Margaret Thatcher at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday 17 April are being sent out.
The guest list has been decided by Margaret Thatcher’s family and representatives, along with the government and the Conservative Party.
It is expected that more than 2,000 invitations will be delivered.
About 200 states, territories and international organizations have been invited to send an official representative.
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has not been invited but the country’s ambassador to Britain has – Downing Street says this is in keeping with diplomatic protocol for such occasions.
The guest list for the funeral ceremony has been decided by Margaret Thatcher’s family and representatives, along with the government and the Conservative Party
Queen Elizabeth II will lead the mourners with the Duke of Edinburgh.
St Paul’s Cathedral has a capacity of 2,300 and is expected to be full on the day.
Margaret Thatcher’s funeral invitees include:
- All surviving former UK prime ministers
- All surviving former US presidents
- A representative of the family of former US President Ronald Reagan
- Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
- All surviving members of Margaret Thatcher’s cabinets
- The current British cabinet
- Opposition leader Ed Miliband
- European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso
- Margaret Thatcher’s former press secretary Sir Bernard Ingham and Lady Ingham
- Author Frederick Forsyth
- Former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad
- A representative of Nelson Mandela
- The first minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond
- The first minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones
- The first minister of Northern Ireland, Peter Robinson
- Falklands War veterans
- Director of The British Forces Foundation Mark Cann
- Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend John Sentamu
- Broadcaster Sir David Frost
- Broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald
- Lyricist Sir Timothy Rice
- Actress June Whitfield
- Actress Joan Collins
- Fashion designer Anya Hindmarch
Some of those attending Margaret Thatcher’s funeral include:
- Tony and Cherie Blair
- Former South African President Frederik Willem de Klerk
- Singer Dame Shirley Bassey
- Broadcaster and journalist Jeremy Clarkson
- Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber
- Lord and Lady Archer
- Lord Powell of Bayswater
- Lord Carrington
- Canadian PM Stephen Harper
- Former Canadian PM Brian Mulroney
- Michael and Carolyn Portillo
- Broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan and Lady Helen Wogan
Among those not attending Margaret Thatcher’s funeral ceremony:
- Ronald Reagan’s widow Nancy is understood to be too frail to travel
- Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev will not be attending due to health problems
- Downing Street has confirmed that Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner will not be invited
- Lord Kinnock – former Labour Leader of the Opposition – will not be present because of a commitment to attend the funeral of a former local councillor in Wales
- Comedian Jim Davidson, a prominent Tory supporter during the 1980s, is understood not to have been invited
An initial list of invitations to Margaret Thatcher’s funeral on April 17 has been released by Downing Street.
All surviving US presidents and British prime ministers are on the guest list, as well as a representative of the Reagan family.
Ronald Reagan’s widow Nancy is understood to be too frail to travel.
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev will also not be attending owing to health problems, his spokesman has said.
The guest list for the event was drawn up by Margaret Thatcher’s family with the assistance of the government and the Conservative Party.
More than 2,000 invitations will be sent out, with most set to be dispatched on Friday.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are already confirmed for the ceremony, which will take place in St Paul’s Cathedral, London.
It will be the first funeral of a British politician the Queen has attended since that of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965.
The cathedral has a capacity of 2,300 and is expected to be full on the day.
All surviving members of Margaret Thatcher’s cabinets will be invited, as will the current cabinet and Labour leader Ed Miliband.
Other invited guests from around the globe include former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and a representative of Nelson Mandela.
Guests from the world of entertainment who have already confirmed their attendance include Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, Welsh singer Dame Shirley Bassey, broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan, Lord Lloyd Webber and Sir Timothy Rice.
Margaret Thatcher’s funeral ceremony will take place at St Paul’s Cathedral in London
Author Frederick Forsyth, a longstanding supporter of the Conservative Party, has also been invited, as have actresses Joan Collins and June Whitfield.
Veteran journalists Sir David Frost and Sir Trevor McDonald will be attending, alongside British fashion accessories designer Anya Hindmarch and the Archbishop of York Dr. John Sentamu.
Labour former PM’s Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have confirmed their attendance, as has Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland, and Frederik Willem de Klerk, the last president of apartheid South Africa.
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has not been invited, but the country’s ambassador to Britain has. Downing Street says this is in keeping with diplomatic protocol for such occasions.
Lord Kinnock, who was Labour leader for most of Margaret Thatcher’s time in Downing Street and was defeated by her at the 1987 election, will not be present because of a commitment to attend the funeral of a former local councilor in Wales.
More than 700 armed forces personnel will line the route of the procession from Westminster to St Paul’s, including three bands whose drums will be covered in black cloth.
A gun salute will be fired from the Tower of London and the coffin will be carried into St Paul’s by service personnel from regiments and ships closely associated with the Falklands campaign.
PM David Cameron said he believed it was right that Baroness Thatcher was being given a ceremonial funeral with full military honors.
“I think people would find us a pretty extraordinary country if we didn’t properly commemorate with dignity, with seriousness, but with also some fanfare … the passing of this extraordinary woman,” he said.
“I think not only in Britain would people say, <<You are not doing this properly>>, but I think the rest of the world would think we were completely wrong.”
David Cameron has previously welcomed suggestions as to how Margaret Thatcher could be commemorated.
The Mayor of London’s office, Westminster Council and the government are understood to be looking at a variety of central London sites, including Parliament Square, as a potential site for a new statue.
The Metropolitan Police said they were working to ensure the day of the funeral passed off safely, amid concerns that some people may use it as an opportunity to protest.
On the day of Margaret Thatcher’s death, there were small gatherings in various parts of the UK, notably in Glasgow, Bristol and London, with those taking part saying they were celebrating her death.
Met commander Christine Jones urged anyone wishing to demonstrate at the funeral to talk to the police.
“The right to protest is one that must be upheld,” she said.
“However, we will work to do that whilst balancing the rights of those who wish to pay their respects and those who wish to travel about London as usual.”
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office has said “an administrative error” led to inaccurate guidance being issued to diplomatic staff in embassies around the world after it was reported they had been told to wear mourning clothes on the day of the funeral.
They were later told it was unnecessary.
Lady Margaret Thatcher, who won three successive general elections, died “peacefully” on Monday after suffering a stroke while staying at the Ritz hotel in central London.
Notable invitees at Margaret Thatcher’s funeral:
- Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip
- All surviving ex-prime ministers
- All surviving US presidents
- All surviving members of Margaret Thatcher’s cabinets
- Current cabinet
- Labour leader Ed Miliband
- First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Michael and Carolyn Portillo
- Frederik Willem de Klerk
- Dame Shirley Bassey
- Jeremy Clarkson
- Sir Terry Wogan
- Joan Collins
- Sir Trevor McDonald
- Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber
- Lord and Lady Archer
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Margaret Thatcher’s funeral will not be attended by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev due to health problems, his spokesman has announced.
Mikhail Gorbachev, 82, with whom the former British prime minister worked closely at the end of the Cold War, was expected to be one of a number of global figures attending.
Downing Street said consultation over the funeral guest list was continuing.
It has confirmed that Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner will not be invited.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are already confirmed for next Wednesday’s ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral, London.
Margaret Thatcher’s funeral will not be attended by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev due to health problems
During her time in power Margaret Thatcher struck up an unlikely alliance with Mikhail Gorbachev, the reforming Soviet president who oversaw the end of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Following her death on Monday, Mikhail Gorbachev paid tribute to Baroness Thatcher as a “heavyweight politician and a striking person”.
On Wednesday, British MPs were recalled from their Easter break for a seven-hour Commons debate about Lady Thatcher.
British PM David Cameron said Margaret Thatcher “overcame the great challenges of her age”. Labour’s Ed Miliband paid tribute but said he disagreed “with much of what she did”.
Conservative MPs queued up in the Commons to pay their respects to Margaret Thatcher, who was prime minister from 1979 to 1990, but about half of Labour’s 256 MPs stayed away.
The Lords also held a debate on the former prime minister, with her former Cabinet ministers Lord Fowler and Lord Tebbit among those paying tribute.
The Guardian has reported that Commons Speaker John Bercow was taken aback by David Cameron’s request to recall Parliament because he thought tributes could be paid on Monday, when MPs were due to return.
The paper reports that a lengthy wrangle ensued, with David Cameron enlisting the support of Ed Miliband to overcome opposition to the move.
Responding to the report, a Downing Street spokesman said: “Only government ministers can request the recall of the House, which the Speaker then decides on.
“The prime minister felt given the strength of feeling following Lady Thatcher’s death it was appropriate to give the House an early opportunity to pay its respects.”
Discussions between PM David Cameron and the Speaker are ongoing about whether Prime Minister’s Questions, usually held at midday, will be cancelled next Wednesday to allow MPs to attend the funeral.
Speaker John Bercow could require MPs to attend the session later in the afternoon, rather than cancel it.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office has said “an administrative error” led to inaccurate guidance being issued to diplomatic staff in embassies around the world after it was reported they had been told to wear mourning clothes on the day of the funeral.
They were later told it was unnecessary.
Guests who have said they will be attending Margaret Thatcher’s funeral include ex-Labour PM’s Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, as well as FW de Klerk, the last president of apartheid South Africa.
The Queen has not attended the funeral of a British politician since that of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965.
More than 700 armed forces personnel will line the route of the procession from Westminster to St Paul’s, including three bands whose drums will be covered in black cloth.
A gun salute will be fired from the Tower of London and the coffin will be carried into St Paul’s by service personnel from regiments and ships closely associated with the Falklands campaign.
The Metropolitan Police said it was working to ensure the day passed off safely, amid concerns that some people may use it as an opportunity to protest.
On the day of Margaret Thatcher’s death, there were small gatherings in various parts of the UK, notably in Glasgow, Bristol and London, with those taking part saying they were celebrating her death.
Met Commander Christine Jones urged anyone wishing to demonstrate to at the funeral to talk to the police.
“The right to protest is one that must be upheld,” she said.
“However, we will work to do that whilst balancing the rights of those who wish to pay their respects and those who wish to travel about London as usual.”
Margaret Thatcher’s family is meeting an unspecified amount of the expense of the funeral, thought to cover transport, flowers and the cremation, with the government funding the rest, including security.
Downing Street said the cost of the funeral would not be released until after the event.
Margaret Thatcher, who won three successive general elections, died “peacefully” on Monday after suffering a stroke while staying at the Ritz hotel in central London.
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Margaret Thatcher’s funeral will take place on Wednesday, April 17, Downing Street has announced today.
Former British PM Margaret Thatcher died on Monday, April 8, after suffering a series of strokes.
The funeral ceremony, with full military honors, will take place at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral, following a procession from Westminster.
Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, will attend the service, Buckingham Palace said.
Margaret Thatcher’s funeral will take place on Wednesday, April 17
Margaret Thatcher will not have a state funeral but will be accorded the same status as Princess Diana and the Queen Mother.
A ceremonial funeral is one rung down from a state funeral – normally reserved for monarchs – and requires the consent of the Queen.
A Downing Street spokesman said the details had been agreed at a “co-ordination meeting” between the Thatcher family and Buckingham Palace on Tuesday morning.
Baroness Thatcher, a Conservative, was Britain’s first female prime minister. She was in office from 1979 to 1990, winning three successive general elections.
She died “peacefully” after suffering a stroke while staying at the Ritz hotel in central London. Lady Thatcher had been staying at the hotel since being discharged from hospital at the end of last year.
An undertaker’s van carrying a silver casket left the hotel early on Tuesday morning for an undisclosed location.
Parliament will be recalled from its Easter recess this Wednesday to enable MPs and peers to pay tributes.
But Labour MP John Mann said: “I do not know why we are wasting taxpayers’ money on an additional session.
“It is perfectly valid that, when a prime minister dies, MPs can pay tribute, but this could be perfectly properly done on Monday.”
PM David Cameron has described Margaret Thatcher as a “great Briton” and international leaders, including US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have praised her.
Lady Thatcher was born Margaret Hilda Roberts, the daughter of a shopkeeper and Conservative councilor in Grantham, Lincolnshire, in 1925. She became an MP in 1959.
Having been education secretary, Margaret Thatcher successfully challenged former PM Edward Heath for her party’s leadership in 1975 and won general elections in 1979, 1983 and 1987.
Margaret Thatcher resigned as prime minister in 1990 and had been in poor health for several years prior to her death.
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More than 1,000 people turned out on Wednesday to pay respects to the Last of the Mohicans star, American Indian activist Russell Means, in an impressive 12-hour service in South Dakota.
The moving memorial featured a tribute in his native Lakota and was delivered against the backdrop of the barren prairie land where he was born.
As family members rode horseback down the Big Foot Trail in the Pine Ridge Reservation, they sang in honor of Russell Means who passed away on Monday.
Russell Means died at his home in South Dakota after spending decades fighting for American Indian rights, starting with protests against college and professional sports teams’ use of Indian images as mascots.
He later become the leader of the American Indian Movement (AIM) and a Libertarian Party candidate for U.S. president.
Family and friends of Russell Means sing as they ride horses down the Big Foot Trail during a 12 hour service in North Dakota on Wednesday
Russell Means, who was 72, had been battling advanced esophageal cancer.
Bill Means said on Wednesday that his older brother’s combative nature and unwillingness to accept any form of racial discrimination was ingrained at an early age.
“Our mother had faced discrimination throughout her life, and she was a not a woman to compromise – particularly when it came to discrimination,” he said during the service.
“Russell saw that and become much the same way.”
The ceremony was expected to last 12 hours, beginning with a funeral procession led by 21 horses through a stretch of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation of the Oglala Sioux in South Dakota, where Russell Means was born.
Dan Wheldon’s funeral has taken place today in his adopted hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida.
Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner funeral service began at 10:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in St Petersburg, and well-wishers lined surrounding streets as the procession passed by, en route to a private burial.
Order of Service wrote on the front page “Lionheart Forever”, underneath a picture of Dan Wheldon kissing one of his many trophies – in reference to the driver’s nickname, earned for fearless racing.
Dan Wheldon, 33, died in a fiery 15-car crash at Sunday’s season-ending IndyCar race in Las Vegas.
In a statement on Thursday, Dan Wheldon’s wife, Susie said:
“Though we won’t be able to fit everyone inside, I know that Dan would have wanted the community to share in the celebration of his life and to grieve his passing.”
Order of Service wrote on the front page “Lionheart Forever”, underneath a picture of Dan Wheldon kissing one of his many trophies - in reference to the driver's nickname, earned for fearless racing
Susie Wheldon thanked fans for offering support over the past few days, which she described as “unbearable” for the family.
Dan Wheldon is survived by his wife and two young children, Sebastian and Oliver.
Dan Wheldon was one of IndyCar’s most popular drivers and he developed a special bond with fans in both American cities that he called home – Indianapolis and St Petersburg – after moving from his native England.
Fans from Indianapolis and St Petersburg dropped off notes of condolence and items ranging from teddy bears to chequered flags at impromptu memorial sites this week.
“Although the last few days have been unbearable for our family, the overwhelming love and support we have received are rays of sunshine during these dark days,” Susie Wheldon said.
“The outpouring of sympathy and condolences has been so comforting, and I want to thank everyone for their kind notes, letters, gifts and flowers.”
Holly Wheldon, champion’ sister, tweeted yesterday: “Thank you so much to everyone who emailed and tweeted me amazing messages. Really appreciate it. Dan would be proud of all of you. :)”
Dan Wheldon’s funeral took place today at First Presbyterian Church in St Petersburg
During his service, country music star Wynonna Judd sang “I Can Only Imagine” and “Amazing Grace” in tribute to Dan Wheldon, known as Lionheart.
Writing on a sponsor’s blog in 2010, Dan Wheldon explained the moniker: “When I first started racing, a lot of the guys said that I raced with a lot of heart, occasionally not my head, but always with a lot of heart, like the way that Richard the Lionheart fought in battle.”
Dan Wheldon was born in Emberton, England. The future champion raced go-karts at the age of four. Dan Wheldon’s father was a go-kart racer and his mother was the timer at a local track.
Dan Wheldon was an IndyCar rookie in 2003 and won his first Indianapolis 500 two years later.
NASCAR drivers will honour Dan Wheldon with a special decal at this weekend’s race in Talladega, Alabama.
Meanwhile, St. Petersburg city council was scheduled to honour Dan Wheldon with a resolution on Thursday afternoon, and IndyCar officials are holding a public memorial service on Sunday afternoon at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indy.
Indy memorial service for Dan Wheldon will open its doors to the public on Sunday at 2:30 p.m., 90 minutes before the service is scheduled to start.
A trust fund for Dan Wheldon’s family has been established. Donations can be sent to Fifth Third Private Bank, attention Dan Wheldon Family Trust, 251 North Illinois St., Suite 1000, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
People wishing to send their condolences to Dan Wheldon family can address letters to The Wheldons, 9600 Koger Blvd N, Ste. 105, St Petersburg, FL 33702.
