The funeral of singer Freddie Garrity, who, as previously reported, died last month at the age of 69 whilst on holiday in Wales, has taken place near his Staffordshire home. A host of fellow sixties pop stars were amongst the hundreds of mourners lining the streets in Stoke-on-Trent to pay their respects, including Brian Poole from The Tremeloes, Tony Crane from the Merseybeats, and members of Herman's Hermits.
Freddie and The Dreamers singer Nick St John-Foti said of his former bandmate: "I was in his last band, so it's an upsetting day for me, but Freddie was full of fun and he wouldn't want us to be upset because he was the Prince of Mirth." A jester's hat was placed atop Garrity's coffin for its journey to the city's Carmountside Crematorium.
Garrity, who was taken ill in Bangor and died on 19 May, had been suffering from emphysema for several years and had been unable to work since 2001.