Friends and loved ones of Bill Oddie gathered at Hampstead Heath on Monday morning (August 24) to bid farewell to the late musician. The comedian-turned-ornithologist passed away on July 27 at the age of 85, his close friend Eric Idle revealed.
Celebration of Life Service
Although no cause of death was announced, Mr Idle revealed the Springwatch star had been "sick for some time". One month later, his family threw a celebration of life for the national treasure in a non-religious service in the popular London park, where he would spend hours listening to birdsong.
Images from the service show the star's ashes being carried out on a wooden structure by men wearing elaborate badger masks as the crowd gave him a standing ovation. The song Cocktails For Two can be heard in the background, with strings of plastic birds hanging from nearby trees.
Fans Pay Tribute
Sharing a clip from the celebration of life service, one onlooker penned: "Today I was honoured to be invited to a very special send-off for Bill Oddie on Hampstead Heath, London. A wonderful day surrounded by some amazing people, all coming together to celebrate Bill's extraordinary life, his humour, his work and, of course, his lifelong love of wildlife and music."
"So many stories, memories and familiar faces. A fitting celebration of a truly unique man. It was a real honour and a privilege to have been there. Rest well, Bill."
Funeral Plans Revealed
More than 10 years before the star passed away, he had shared details of his funeral with the world. Speaking about plans for his funeral, Bill told the Daily Mail in 2012: "I'm an atheist, so I will have a humanist funeral. I want to come into Nothing Compares 2 U by Prince and disappear to Cocktails For Two by Spike Jones. My ashes can be scattered on Hampstead Heath. I love it there."
The TV star said that when he died, he wanted to be remembered as someone "who told the truth" and "made good television programmes that touched people". There has been a huge outpouring of grief from fans and colleagues following the announcement of his death, many of whom said that his TV career had marked their lives.
Career and Legacy
The wildlife presenter, conservationist and comedian first found fame as a member of the beloved comedy trio The Goodies alongside Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden. He also wrote jokes and music for a series of hit shows, such as the satirical TV show, That Was The Week That Was.
Later in life, the broadcaster stole the hearts of a nation when he transitioned his wildlife work into his onscreen work. He campaigned on environmental issues and helped raise awareness of mental health by opening up about his own experiences of depression and bipolar disorder. Oddie, who was born in Rochdale and raised in Birmingham, was loved by fans for his wildlife work on BBC nature programmes such as Springwatch and Autumnwatch, Birding with Bill Oddie, and Bill Oddie Goes Wild.
