Tear-jerking details have emerged about Shane Warne’s private funeral where 80 of his closest friends and family gathered to farewell the cricket legend ahead of his state service next week.
Emotions ran high as mourners gathered at the St Kilda Football Club in Melbourne on Sunday to pay their respects to Warne, who died of a heart attack in Thailand on March 4.
Close friend Eddie Maguire delivered the eulogy and Coldplay singer Chris Martin sent a musical tribute called The Eulogy, which was played during the service.
Attendees also heard Yellow by Coldplay, which was one of Warne’s favourite tracks according to McGuire, and Frank Sinatra’s My Way.
Former wife of Australian cricket superstar Shane Warne, Simone Callahan (centre) and fellow mourners toast the hearse carrying Warne on a lap of the ground after a private service at the St Kilda Football Club in Melbourne on March 20, 2022
Emotions ran high as mourners gathered at the St Kilda Football Club in Melbourne on Sunday to pay their respects to Warne, who died of a heart attack in Thailand on March 4
Shane Warne (pictured), who died aged 52 of a heart attack on March 4 in Koh Samui, Thailand, will be farewelled publicly on March 30 at a state funeral
Two other songs played during the outdoor part of the service were Fix You by Coldplay and finally, as Warne’s body was driven away for a final time, Simply The Best by Tina Turner.
Emotional lyrics from the Coldplay song include ‘lights will guide you home’ and ‘tears stream down your face when you lose something you cannot replace’.
Simply The Best was fitting for an icon of Australian cricket who has often been described as irreplaceable.
Warne’s three children, daughters Brooke, 24, and Summer, 21, and son Jackson, 22, filed out after the procession looking grief stricken. Jackson was accompanied by his girlfriend Kiah Broadsmith, 21.
The club’s footy oval headquarters was chosen by Warne’s family for his final goodbye, it was the place his heart had been broken 33 years ago which led him on the path to become a legendary cricketer.
Warne had played five games for St Kilda’s under-19 team and part of one reserve grade game. He was heartbroken when he was delisted in 1988.
‘I never wanted to play cricket,’ he said in the documentary of his life, Shane. ‘I’m AFL through and through. I didn’t have a girlfriend. School wasn’t important. It was just football.’
The celebrated spin king remained a committed Saints fans, though, cheering his club on from the stands and forming a friendship with club legend Nick Riewoldt.
The hearse drove a final lap of honour around the football oval, with club scarves draped over his coffin. Warne’s son Jackson kissed his dad’s coffin as his close friends of his father watched on from the stands.
The invitation-only mourners included sporting friends, old school mates, his partners from late night poker games. They were all given St Kilda scarves as they walked in for the sombre service.
After completing one lap of the oval, Warne’s son Jackson kissed the coffin in a heart wrenching final goodbye to his dad
Former Australian cricketer Merv Hughes (left) attended the invitation-only service while Eddie McGuire (pictured right with his partner) hosted the intimate funeral and delivered the opening tribute
Jackson was seen clenching a cricket ball, a golf club and a brochure as he left the emotional funeral procession
Coldplay singer Chris Martin (pictured) provided a musical piece called The Eulogy which was played at his friend Shane Warne’s funeral
McGuire, a former president of the Collingwood Football Club, joked that he couldn’t be wearing a St Kilda scarf.
‘They’re one short so I won’t be wearing one,’ he said.
He said Warne was loved because he was fallible, but he ‘sprinkled gold dust’ everywhere he went.
‘He did the things you dreamt of doing as a kid,’ McGuire said.
‘He had an amazing charisma that took this Black Rock kid, Black Rock bogan if you like, who would go to three-star Michelin restaurants and order a pizza in, and could walk with kings and the greatest names in world sport but at the same time never forgot those who he walked with around the streets of Melbourne.
That’s why everyone loved him and that’s why we’re grieving so badly today.’
Jackson looked a spitting image of his late father with his long blond hair and tailored black suit as he clutched a golf club and ushered his sisters into the car
The cricketer’s oldest daughter, Brooke, kept sunglasses on during the procession and wore them as she left the service
Footy Show host Sam Newman (right) looked downcast as he left the private service on Sunday
Former Australian cricketers Merv Hughes and Mark Taylor stopped for a chat as they left the service
Others who attended the service included cricketers Michael Clarke, Merv Hughes, Allan Border, Mark Taylor, Ian Healy, Glenn McGrath and former England captain Michael Vaughan, racehorse owner Lloyd Williams, football figures Aaron Hamill, Steven Baker, Campbell Brown and Sam Newman, and friends Dannii Minogue, Ann Peacock and Warne’s long-time personal assistant Helen Nolan.
His shattered family and closest friends left his funeral service with teary eyes and heavy hearts. The cricket legend’s son Jackson kissed his father’s coffin during the private farewell.
He was also seen clutching a cricket ball as he left the procession and looked at times to be fighting tears.
Guests, wearing their matching Saints scarves, were instructed to put their glasses ‘high to the sky’ for one final farewell.
‘To Warnie,’ close friend and television personality Mr McGuire said, as cheers erupted from the crowd.
Longtime friend of the cricketer Dannii Minogue is seen leaving the intimate funeral after she described the spin king as a ‘light and energy in the room’ and said her heart was breaking for his family
Jackson Warne (front) and Warne’s brother Jason (third back left) help carry the cricketing legend’s coffin as Brooke and Summer watch on during Sunday’s service
Pictured: The order of service for Shane Warne’s private funeral on Sunday at St Kilda Football Club and Moorabbin Park
Summer Warne also placed a kiss on her father’s coffin after the moving procession which took place after the ceremony inside
Warne’s oldest daughter Brooke is pictured at the grounds
Youngest daughter Summer Warne was in tears as the service drew to a close as Merv Hughes and Mark Howard are among those emotionally watching on
Warne’s coffin was draped in two St Kilda Saints scarves – his favourite AFL team – as it was led away in a hearse
Shane Warne’s ex wife Simone Callahan (centre) raises her glass with guests at the service
Guests, wearing their matching Saints scarves, were instructed to put their glasses ‘high to the sky’ for one final farewell of the cricket icon
Jackson and Warne’s father comforted one another as they left the oval after the funeral procession
Dannii Minogue (pictured) was comforted by friends as she made her way inside the service
Jackson proved yet again that he was prepared to step up for his family in his father’s absence as he led his sisters Brooke and Summer to a waiting car and liaised with security at St Kilda Football Club.
Jackson looked a spitting image of his late father with his long blond hair and tailored black suit as he clutched a golf club.
Warne was a keen golfer, particularly after he retired from cricket, and would often travel the world to play in friendly and competitive matches with his mates.
Shane Warne’s mother Bridgette raises a glass to the guests in the club house following a funeral service in Melbourne
Guests watched on as the procession made its way around the St Kilda oval after the official funeral
Family walked behind the hearse for one slow lap of the oval to three songs in Warne’s honour
Bridgette Warne touches her son’s coffin for the final time after his lap around the oval
Jackson looked a spitting image of his late father with his long blonde hair and tailored black suit as he clutched a golf club and ushered his sisters into a car ahead of the funeral
There was a sombre mood at Simone Callahan’s house early Sunday morning as she and her children made final preparations to farewell Warne
Brooke, Jackson and Summer arrive at St Kilda Football Club and are greeted by other mourners
Warne’s ex-wife Simone (pictured), left her house only briefly to say goodbye to her children, who departed well before the private service began at 11am. She slipped into the service via a back door
Sam Newman appears on the verge of tears outside Warne’s funeral service on Sunday morning as he is embraced by friends
Warne’s Fox Footy colleagues – former cricketer Brendon Julian and co-host Mark Howard – arrive on Sunday morning
Sam Newman greets Merv Hughes before Warne’s funeral service on Sunday morning
Police officers and security guards were stationed around the perimeter of the St Kilda Football Club in order to protect grieving loved ones.
Guests began quietly filing in to the clubhouse about 10.30am, while Shane’s ex-wife Simone Callahan slipped in via a back entrance and greeted immediate family in a separate room.
McGuire gave a live cross to Channel 9 before heading inside. He spoke of Warne’s jovial and happy-go-lucky nature, noting he was a ‘friend of The Footy Show’ and loved his life.
‘The reason why he was so loved is because he was fallible, he was Superman. He did the things you dreamt of doing as a kid,’ McGuire said in a moving tribute out the front of the service.
Pictured: Shane Warne’s coffin after the funeral. drove around the St Kilda football club oval before leaving the ground
Former Australian cricket captain and close friend of Warne Michael Clarke arriving for the service
Eddie McGuire arrives for Warne’s private funeral on Sunday. The Fox Footy present will host proceedings
McGuire said it was fitting the service was held at the St Kilda Football Club, given Warne’s passion for the team and the sport
Former cricketing great Merv Hughes greets a friend at Warne’s private funeral on Sunday
Former Australian cricketer Glenn McGrath arrives for a private memorial service for Australian cricket superstar Shane Warne in Melbourne
The Melbourne park, which is normally open and available for kids to play on when there aren’t games scheduled, has become a fortress surrounded by security in blue uniforms and patrolling police officers. Pictured: Lloyd Williams (left), who build Crown Casino in Melbourne, accompanied by Shane Warne’s father, Keith
Sam Newman embraces a woman alongside former AFL star Campbell Brown
Sam Newman speaks to Merv Hughes before heading inside the St Kilda Football Club HQ for Warne’s funeral
The 52-year-old’s friend Eddie McGuire gave a live cross to Channel 9 before heading inside as a guest. He spoke of Warne’s jovial and happy-go-lucky nature, noting he was a ‘friend of The Footy Show’ and loved his work
Eddie Mcguire, former test captain Allan Border and former fast bowler Merv Hughes walk in to Warne’s funeral at the St Kilda Football Club HQ
‘I’m going and I’m humbled to be invited. Like all funerals I think it’s going to be a sombre affair and emotional,’ AFL legend Sam Newman said earlier.
‘This was extremely shocking to everyone who knew of Shane and to those that knew him well.’
Former England captain Michael Vaughan flew in for the funeral.
‘I don’t think it’s just those who knew Shane, we all knew Shane… back in the UK I’ve had so many people who’ve never met him just coming up and saying this has hit us because he was just a great, great guy,’ Vaughan said.
‘Anyone that likes to have a few drinks, celebrate life, I guess there’s something about a personality that ends up on the front pages.
‘The British public go he’s one of us.’
Warne’s former fiancee, actress Elizabeth Hurley revealed overnight she would not be able to attend.
‘My heart aches that I can’t be in Australia tomorrow for Shane’s funeral,’ she wrote in an Instagram post.
‘I was filming last night and, with the time jump, physically can’t get there.’
She posted photos from their engagement and said: ‘It still hasn’t really sunk in that he’s gone.
‘It seems too cruel that all the people who loved him will never have another Lion hug, but our memories will live forever. RIP Lionheart, with love your Luna.’
A memorial service will be held on March 30 at the MCG for a crowd of up to 100,000 fans.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed he will attend the public service – the night after the Federal Budget is handed down.
At the nearby home of Warne’s parents Bridgette and Keith, his mother (left) went for an early morning stroll with a female friend in the brisk 17C Sunday sun
Bridgette Warne and her friend goes for a walk with an unknown women on the morning of Shane’s private funeral in Melbourne
Jackson handed a David Jones bag to an unknown man as he arrived at the location of his father’s funeral on Sunday morning
Guests embraced one another during the emotional service
Comedian and actor Glenn Robbins looks downcast as he arrived for Warne’s funeral
Liz Hurley said she couldn’t attend Warne’s funeral due to filming commitments in the UK
Jackson was responsible for carrying a golf club presumably owned by his father, who was an avid golfer before his tragic death
One of the last pictures taken of Shane Warne hours before his death at a luxury resort in Koh Samui
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and singer Ed Sheeran are expected to send video messages to be played on big screens.
The state memorial will be ticketed and live-streamed for those who can’t be there in person, with tickets to be made available to the public soon.
People wanting to attend the event will be able to enter a public ballot for one of 50,000 tickets. More tickets may become available, depending on demand.
Warne was found unresponsive in his luxury villa at the Samujana resort on Koh Samui, Thailand, about 5pm on Friday, March 4 after suffering a heart attack.
His close friend Andrew Neophitou performed CPR on Warne for up to 20 minutes before first responders arrived and took over, but could not save him.
Shane Warne’s children Brooke, Summer and Jackson (pictured with their dad in London) have shared heartwarming tributes to the cricketing legend and put on a united front in the weeks since his tragic death
Police investigators are pictured speaking with Warne’s friends after his sudden death at his villa on March 4. A post-mortem examination revealed Warne had suffered a heart attack and there were no suspicious circumstances
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