Bonnie Tyler’s Welsh Hometown Falls Silent for HEARTBREAKING Final Farewell as Tearful Fans Sing Her Greatest Songs One Last Time in an Emotional Tribute
Bonnie Tyler fans sing through tears as Welsh hometown gathers for EMOTIONAL final farewell
Fans of Bonnie Tyler lined the streets of her Welsh hometown in an emotional farewell as the singer’s coffin returned home ahead of her funeral.
The 75-year-old star, whose real name was Gaynor Hopkins, died in hospital in Portugal on July 8 following an illness after emergency intestinal surgery earlier this year.
Bonnie Tyler’s coffin processes through Mumbles, Wales on Saturday draped in a Welsh flag
Prior to Monday’s private family service, a memorial procession took place in Mumbles, Swansea, as she travelled to her home, Fernhill
The hearse carrying the coffin was quickly covered in flowers by adoring fans of the singer
As the hearse passed, fans flooded the streets behind it and broke into applause
A woman holds a white rose as she awaits the coffin of Bonnie Tyler to pass in Mumbles, Swansea
Fans appear emotional with tears in their eyes as they gather to mourn Bonnie Tyler
A man cries as he watches the coffin of Bonnie Tyler proceed through Mumbles, in Swansea
Crowds of Bonnie Tyler fans were several people deep as they amassed along the high street
A hearse with the coffin and a picture of singer Bonnie Tyler moves through the streets past fans ahead of her funeral in Mumbles, Wales
Fans of Bonnie Tyler gathered in the streets of Mumbles on Saturday and left floral tributes outside the singer’s home
Bonnie, whose real name is Gaynor Hopkins, died at the age of 75 in hospital in Portugal on July 8 – her funeral is being held on Monday
Her body has now been returned to Wales, where a memorial procession was held through Mumbles, Swansea, before her funeral on Monday.
Large crowds gathered along Newton Road as the hearse carrying Bonnie’s coffin made its way towards her home, Fernhill.
The coffin was draped in the Welsh flag, with a framed photograph of the singer displayed alongside it.
As the procession passed through the town, mourners broke into applause before singing her most famous hit, Total Eclipse Of The Heart.
Fans also threw flowers onto the hearse, quickly covering the vehicle in tributes.
Many of those lining the route appeared visibly emotional, with some crying and others embracing friends and relatives as they watched the procession.
After the singing and applause, mourners followed behind the hearse in respectful silence as it approached Bonnie’s home.
Mourners comfort one another as they gather in Mumbles, Swansea on Saturday
Fans of the singer appear stony-faced and embrace one another as they bid her farewell
A woman wears a T-shirt with a picture of Bonnie ahead of a memorial procession today
Mourners hold roses as they gather to pay their respects to the Total Eclipse Of The Heart singer
The singer died last month in Portugal but is being laid to rest in her home country
Tributes are seen outside Bonnie’s home, Fernhill, on Saturday afternoon
Tributes are left outside the home of Bonnie Tyler ahead her coffin arriving on Saturday
Flowers had already been placed outside Fernhill before the procession arrived, while some fans carried roses and sunflowers and others wore clothing featuring images of the singer.
Bonnie’s family invited members of the public to line the route and pay their respects before a celebration of her life at Swansea Minster on Monday.
Following that service, the procession is expected to travel through Skewen, the area Bonnie regarded as her hometown, before a private family committal and farewell.
Instead of sending flowers, the family has encouraged fans to donate to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales and Cerebral Palsy Cymru, two charities Bonnie supported as a patron.
Bonnie died close to her home in Portugal after experiencing serious health complications.
She had been admitted to hospital in May following complications from a burst appendix and perforated intestine that required emergency surgery.
Her final public performance took place at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire in March.
Born in Wales and raised on a council estate, Bonnie was discovered by talent scout Roger Bell while performing in a Swansea club in 1975.
She released Lost In France the following year and went on to build an extraordinary career spanning almost five decades.
Her defining hit, Total Eclipse Of The Heart, was released in 1983 and reached number one in both Britain and the United States, making her the first Welsh artist to top the American chart.
She also became famous for Holding Out For A Hero and represented the United Kingdom at Eurovision in 2013 with Believe In Me.
Bonnie had been planning another European tour before her illness.
But on Saturday, the focus was not on awards or chart records.
It was on the people of her hometown standing shoulder to shoulder, singing one of her greatest songs as they welcomed Bonnie Tyler home for the final time.
