‘I’ll interrupt no more old chum’: Basil Brush reads eulogy from the pulpit for co-star ‘Mr Derek’ Fowlds as he is buried at his local church following his death last month aged 82
- Famous fox was among the mourners at St Katharine’s Church in Holt, Wiltshire
- He was helped to the pulpit by Reverend Andrew Evans before reciting a poem
- Fowlds died in January at Royal United Hospital, Bath, after suffering pneumonia
Basil Brush read a eulogy from the pulpit during the funeral of co-star Derek Fowlds following his death last month aged 82.
The famous fox was among the 180 mourners who attended the ceremony at St Katharine’s Church in Holt, Wiltshire, on Monday.
He was helped to the pulpit by Reverend Andrew Evans before reciting a poem for his former co-star.
Basil Brush read a eulogy from the pulpit during the funeral of co-star Derek Fowlds following his death last month aged 82
The famous fox was among the 180 mourners who attended the ceremony at St Katharine’s Church in Holt, Wiltshire, on Monday
The children’s TV favourite later tweeted a copy of the poem alongside a caption that read: ‘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.’
Actors Clive Mantle and Richenda Carey were also among the congregation.
Fowlds died on January 17 at Royal United Hospital, Bath, after suffering from pneumonia which led to heart failure caused by sepsis.
Speaking to the BBC about the funeral ceremony, Reverend Andrew Evans said: ‘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.’
The attendees later stood to give Fowlds one final standing ovations as his coffin was raised at the end of the proceedings in what was described as a ‘very moving service’.
The actor had replaced Rodney Bewes to present The Basil Brush Show between 1969 and 1973.
He later became famous for his role as Principal Private Secretary Bernard Woolley in Yes Minister as well as his 18-year stint as Oscar Blaketon in Heartbeat.
Fowlds was married twice – first to Wendy Tory and then to Blue Peter presenter Lesley Judd.
He is survived by his two sons, Jamie and Jeremy.
Fowlds died on January 17 at Royal United Hospital, Bath, after suffering from pneumonia which led to heart failure caused by sepsis
Basil Brush’s eulogy (above), which was later shared on Twitter, began with the line: ‘Mr Derek, Mr Derek, Mr Derek, what is a fox to do…’