Ewen Gilmour's private farewell

Investigative Reporter·NZ Herald·

8 Oct, 2014 02:00 AM2 mins to read

Pallbearers carry the casket of Ewen Gilmour to the Tuakau Memorial Hall for the funeral service. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Comedian Ewen Gilmour has been farewelled at a private ceremony for family and friends this afternoon.

The ceremony was held at the Tuakau Town Hall.

Image 1 of 6: Pallbearers carry the casket of Ewen Gilmour to the Tuakau Memorial Hall for the funeral service. Photo / Jason Oxenham

There were more leather jackets than suits as a large number of mourners arrived, including Tim Shadbolt and fellow comedians Jon Bridges, Ben Hurley and Jeremy Corbett.

Gilmour's coffin, black with yellow flame detail, was carried into the hall shortly after the last mourners arrived on motorbikes.

According to a programme, titled 'Ewen Gilmour's last stand', tributes were to be delivered by Sir Peter Leitch and Gilmour's partner Bernadette McKinley.

The service sheet for Gilmour's funeral.

The road outside the hall was closed, with many flags in town flying at half-mast.

Gilmour's coffin - with a WESTIE number plate - was carried from the hall and placed on a motorcycle sidecar. Then, as family and friends hugged and wiped tears away, more motorcycles positioned themselves for the ride to Tuakau cemetery. The procession included classic Ford cars and a red stretch Falcon, as well as two classic fire trucks.

Gilmour, 51, died in his sleep early on Friday at his seaside Port Waikato home.

An outpouring of love and grief followed Friday's news of his death, with Gilmour remembered as a comedy legend by the entertainment industry.

Gilmour won the Billy T Award in 1997 and the Decade Achievement Award from the NZ Comedy Guild in 2010. Recently, he presented the TV3 show Road Madness and appeared as a panellist on 7 Days.