James Whales funeral – Nigel Farage and Eamonn Holmes | UK News

Express columnist James Whale was laid to relaxation this afternoon (Monday, September 8) following his death aged 74 after a prolonged battle with cancer. James’ broadcasting profession spanned six a long time, and many well-known faces, as effectively as relations, attended his funeral, which was held in Maidstone, Kent.

Among the celebrities at the event had been GB News host Eamonn Holmes, who wore a black swimsuit and tie with a white shirt for the unhappy event. He was pictured in his mobility chair on the grounds of the medieval church of St Nicholas paying his respects in black aviator sun shades. Other stars who attended the ship-off included Bros singer Matt Goss, TalkTV host Jeremy Kyle and comic Boby Davro.

Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage donned a darkish navy swimsuit for the funeral and was pictured strolling to the service alongside presenter Lizzie Cundy, who wore large black sun shades, a hat and a matching black costume. Other mourners included actor Christopher Biggins and soul legend Lee John from the group Imagination.

Nearly 200 mourners, including Reform UK chief Nigel Farage, packed St Nicholas’ Church in Boughton Malherbe, close to Whale’s Kent home, spilling over into the churchyard.

James was buried on a woven wool coffin, carried into the gorgeous Grade II-listed church to When Will I Be Famous by Bros. Later singer Matt Goss serenaded mourners with In The Wee Small Hours and Unforgettable. Braveheart actor James Cosmo gave a studying as did MP Tom Tugendhat.

Following the service, James’ household and late spouse Nadine Lamont-Brown invited those in attendance to honour the presenter at his favorite local pub.

Nadine said during her heartfelt speech about her late husband: “I first met James seven years ago, and although our time together was short, it was truly wonderful despite his illness, and it is a testament to the fact that it is possible to find true, deep love late in life.

“We laughed together a lot, cried, shared our hopes and fears and he immediately turned my best buddy – even though he might be annoying at instances.”

She added: “James was a man who stirred feelings, controversial, diplomatic, but genuine, he said what he felt. He never made a fuss, even in direction of the end. I’m so proud to be us spouse.”

A heartbroken Nadine also said James would be buried in the same suit he wore when he received his MBE.

She closed off her tribute saying: “There will never be a day when I do not miss him I but look ahead to the day when we see each other again.”

James’ brother, Keith, an Anglican vicar who took the service, told mourners: “He lived to broadcast. It energised him. When he went to work he looked so much better.”

He talked transferring about how his older brother left college with one CSE in spiritual research because he was dyslexic but was terribly vivid despite being deserted by schooling.

“His dyslexia was never recognised when he was young. He was ‘word blind’ and ‘stupid’ so he left school at 15 to get a job, he said. “And from that he became an MBE and changed the face of the work he did. His professional impact was enormous.”

Other relations, including James two sons Peter and James Jr, also paid tribute.

Afterwards the veteran journalist was carried from the church through an arch of bows and buried in an “English churchyard under an English sky” exterior the church as had been his closing want. An archer let fly three ‘whistling arrows’ as his physique coffin was lowered into the ground.

With countless good humour and stoicism, he documented his wrestle in the pages of this newspaper and via a fashionable podcast, Tales of the Whales, with Nadine, his second spouse whom he married in October 2021.

He penned a closing, posthumous column for the Daily Express opening with the road: “If you’re reading this then I’m dead.” Readers in contrast it to Spike Milligan’s well-known gravestone inscription: “I told you I was ill.”

In it, he wrote movingly: “There’s a quiet spot near some trees where I hope people will come and visit me. It’s a tiny church. When Nadine rang, the warder told her: ‘He’d better be quick, it’s filling up fast!’ But what a privilege being buried in England. Under an English sky (and, yes, with English rain).”