Swansea bid farewell to singer Bonnie Tyler
A farewell ceremony was held in Swansea, Wales, for singer Bonnie Tyler, known for her hits “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “It’s a Heartache.” Her white coffin, covered with bouquets of white roses, was carried into Swansea Minster amid applause from the crowd gathered on the street.
Before the private service began, the songs “If I Sing You a Love Song” and “It’s a Heartache” were played. Those who remained outside watched a live broadcast of the ceremony on a screen in the nearby St. David’s Square, according to The Guardian World.
Bonnie Tyler, whose real name was Gaynor Hopkins, died in July at the age of 75 in a hospital in Portugal following a period of health issues. She is survived by her husband, Robert Sullivan, with whom the singer had been married for 53 years.
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People began arriving at the Minster as early as 7:30 a.m., ahead of the noon service. Some traveled from Germany and Austria. Local residents told reporters that they had met Tyler or knew her personally. Bill Cash, who attended with his wife and son, said that the singer never forgot her roots and was proud of them.
On Saturday, fans watched as the procession carried the coffin, draped in the Welsh flag, to the singer’s home in Mumbles. After the service, the hearse set off for her hometown of Skeuen, northeast of Swansea. Tyler gained international fame in 1983 when “Total Eclipse of the Heart” topped the charts in the UK and the US. In 2013, she represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest.
