Basil Brush paid tribute to Derek Fowlds from the pulpit during his funeral this week.
The famous puppet fox read a eulogy in the form of a touching poem as he joined 180 mourners at St. Katharine’s Church in Holt, Wiltshire on Monday (18.02.20), and he was helped up by Reverend Andrew Evans before remembering his late co-star following his death last month at the age of 82.
Basil later tweeted: "Yesterday we said a final goodbye to my Mr Derek at his local church in Holt, Wiltshire. A lovely service with lots of old chums of TV & Theatre.
"Vicar helped me up to the pulpit so I could give a speech and recite a little poem to my dearest friend… RIP Mr Derek #DerekFowlds."
The iconic TV character – who appeared alongside Fowlds on ‘The Basil Brush Show’ from 1969 to 1973 – also shared a copy of his emotional and witty eulogy.
It read: "Mr Derek, Mr Derek, Mr Derek, what is a fox to do, I’ve gone and lost my Mister, won’t be the same without you.
"How we always made ’em laugh, with sketches and with song, I’d interrupt, then disrupt, we went on far too long.
"Stars begged to see the show, that much is not contested, big names of the 70s, even some who weren’t arrested.
"You’d read a daring story about knights in shining armour, Bucaneering Basil and then Basil De Farmer.
"Companions upon the stage and friends when in the bar, but you were so talented dear friend, I knew you would go far.
"Just four years we did, it seemed so many more. But by Jove you made an impact, you always leave ’em wanting more.
"I’ll interrupt no more old chum, the stage is now all yours. That sound we love, its all for you, for Mr Derek, applause."
Reverend Andrew Evans described Basil as "the star of the show".
He told the BBC: "There were quite a lot of locals and his closest buddies, including most of the cast of ‘Heartbeat’. Clive Mantle did the eulogy and Richenda Carey did a reading but the star of the show was Basil Brush."
Basil Brush delivered Derek Fowlds eulogy at late co-star’s funeral
