EastEnders' farewell to Wendy Richard

A host of television stars gathered today at the funeral of Wendy Richard as family members and friends were joined by actors from the two shows for which she is best remembered - Are You Being Served? and EastEnders.

Richard, who played Pauline Fowler on the BBC soap for 21 years, died last month aged 65 after a battle with cancer.

Todd Carty, her on-screen son from EastEnders, joined Richard's husband John Burns among the pallbearers who carried her coffin into St Marylebone Parish Church in central London.

Letitia Dean, who played Sharon Watts in the show, said as she walked into the church: "Wendy would have loved this."

Other EastEnders stars past and present at the service included June Brown (Dot Cotton), Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale), Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson), Barbara Windsor (Peggy Mitchell), Pam St Clement (Pat Butcher), Natalie Cassidy (Sonia Jackson) and John Altman (Nick Cotton).

They were joined by stars from the sitcom Are You Being Served? Frank Thornton (Captain Peacock) and Mollie Sugden (Mrs Slocombe).

Richard played Cockney department store sales assistant Miss Brahms in the show which ran from 1972 to 1985. Mourners were given an order of service, which included Richard's favourite chilli con carne recipe.

In The Mood by Glenn Miller and the Sixties hit Spirit In The Sky were among the songs played to the congregation this afternoon.

An EastEnders spokeswoman said more than 100 current cast and crew attended the service. Richard was awarded the MBE for services to television in 2000.