Ronnie Corbett was honoured with a memorial service on Wednesday (07.06.17).
‘The Two Ronnies’ comedian passed away in March 2016 aged 85 after having been diagnosed with motor neurone disease the year previous, and a memorial service was held in his honour at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday.
Stars including Joanna Lumley, Stephen Fry, Rob Brydon, Graham Norton, and Jimmy Tarbuck joined a crowd of around 2,000 at the service, which saw his chair and four candles – made famous from his work on the sketch show he fronted with Ronnie Barker, who passed away in 2005 – placed at the high altar inside the London church.
During an emotional tribute, fellow comedian Rob Brydon said of the late star: "[It was] truly one of the great pleasures to become friends with this remarkable man. To walk down the street with Ronnie Corbett was to witness something really rather wonderful. Faces would light up with joy like shop windows when they saw him. Here was that man, that friend, who had entertained us for so long.
"In these horribly dark and troubled times we’re living through, he’s brought us all together and once again we’ve laughed and we’ve smiled as we remember and celebrate him. On behalf of us all, I say thank you Ron. We will never forget you."
Actress Joanna Lumley gave a Bible reading at he ceremony, before claiming Ronnie would be "absolutely delighted" at the service.
She said: "’The Two Ronnies’ were as good as it gets. They were at the top of the tree. They always left me in stitches and gasps of admiration."
Others in attendance included David Walliams, Maureen Lipman, Dame Penelope Keith, Patricia Hodge, June Whitfield, Jo Brand, Julian Clary, Ben Elton and Dame Barbara Windsor.
According to the BBC, Sir Michael Parkinson had been slated to appear to give a speech in memory of the comedy icon, but was said to be unwell.
Ronnie Corbett honoured with memorial service
