Fans arrived hours early for Bonnie Tyler's funeral at Swansea Minster on Monday, with the first arriving at 7.30am to pay their respects and say goodbye to the singer.
The Total Eclipse Of The Heart star, whose real name was Gaynor Hopkins, died in July at the age of 75. The streets of Mumbles in Swansea, where Tyler lived and was well-known among locals, were packed with mourners on Saturday for the procession of her coffin to her home.
Fans gather outside the church
Entry to the church was for family, friends and invited guests only, but fans could watch the service on a screen in nearby St David's Square or online. Leigh Alexander, 42, from Swansea, was the first fan to arrive outside the church this morning, setting up her camping chair at 7.30am.
She said: "I've grown up inspired by Gaynor and her music all my life, we're lucky enough to know some of her family. We genuinely know she comes from a family of so much love, and the great thing is she's never forgotten her roots. She's just such a lovely person. I wanted her family to know that even though we're not inside that we are here and that it means a lot to us. We want to show our love for them because on a day like this it's so overwhelming for them, it's nice to know that not just the public but people who care for you and appreciate your warmth are there as well."
Fans travel from across the UK
Gail and Andrew Hayes travelled from Towcester, Northamptonshire, to be at the church and arrived outside at 8am. Mr Hayes, 58, said: "I've been a fan all my life. It's been a soundtrack of our lives. It's the end, isn't it, it's sad, so sad."
Richard Pope, 56, and his son Daniel, 21, from Somerset, were the first to take their seats in front of the screen in St David's Square, where the service was livestreamed. Mr Pope said: "I've been a fan of Bonnie Tyler since I was 13 and I've just followed her career, bought all her records, seen her in concert. I've met her a couple of times, she was brilliant, down to earth, funny, she never took herself too seriously but she enjoyed life and she enjoyed meeting people. It's been quite a shock, really, because she was still planning tours and releasing records. It was just so unexpected. You do feel like you know her, because she's so down to earth, so open."
Service details and final journey
The service at Swansea Minster was conducted by Reverend Canon Justin Davies, with entry music of two of Tyler's songs: If I Sing You A Love Song and It's A Heartache. Roger Bell, the talent scout who discovered Tyler when she performed in a club in Swansea, shared a tribute, as did Tyler's long-time manager, Matthew Davis.
The order of service also listed Bridge Over Troubled Water, Only Men Aloud, Total Eclipse Of The Heart, Those Were The Days and Making Love Out Of Nothing as other songs played during the funeral. Following the service, Tyler was taken on a final journey through her hometown of Skewen, near Neath, at about 1.20pm, before a private family committal and farewell service.
Her family asked that in lieu of flowers, people supported two charities of which she was a patron: Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales and Cerebral Palsy Cymru. In the order of the service, they wrote: "She is remembered as a warm, generous artist whose music touched generations and continues to fill dance floors and karaoke booths around the world." They also said that Tyler's legacy "lives on in the timeless songs that made her a legend".
