Friends of Dame Penelope Keith have described her funeral as “wonderful, beautiful and absolutely amazing.”
At the age of 86, the actress who played in To The Manor Born and The Good Life “died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home” on June 29.
Before the service at Guildford Cathedral, crowds lined the streets to bid farewell to the “very special lady” as her coffin passed through Milford, Surrey, her hometown.
The funeral was “filled with a mixture of sadness but laughter and gratitude as well because we were celebrating a great actress,” according to broadcaster, author, and former politician Gyles Brandreth.
“It was a wonderful way to remember a remarkable person,” he said on BBC Radio Surrey.
“There was laughter and tears at Guildford Cathedral this morning – a truly beautiful and deeply moving funeral service for Dame Penelope Keith – what a lady and what a perfect service,” he wrote in a later post on X. “Dame Penelope was one of the nicest and kindest people,” he wrote. “Her love of Surrey was in everything she did,” he said. “Her sense of community… belonging and working for the community was considerable.”
“[She] was known to me as Auntie Penny,” Sarah Cliff stated on BBC Radio Surrey that Dame Penelope had been a part of her early years. “She was great fun”.
The service was “beautiful,” according to Cliff, the daughter of actors Michael Robbins and Hal Dyer.
“I have never visited this cathedral. It’s light, airy, and beautiful,” she remarked.
According to Doreen Walford, she had a long history with the late actress.
She revealed to BBC Radio Surrey that the two had previously worked together and lived nearby.
“Everybody could talk to her,” she declared.
She continued, “I am so glad I came,” after witnessing the procession. It was very incredible.
The late Dame Penelope Keith, who passed away in June at the age of 86, will be honoured by the villagers.
According to the parish council, the actress’s coffin would be taken through her hometown of Milford in Surrey before to her funeral.
In 1975, Dame Penelope earned a Bafta TV prize for her role as Margo Leadbetter in The Good Life, which made her a household figure.
A procession will begin shortly before 10:00 BST at the traffic lights at the end of Portsmouth Road and walk “past all the shops where so many of us used to see her,” according to Witley & Milford parish councillor Maxine Gale’s Facebook post.
“Goodbyes to a very special lady” is what she asked the locals to do.
She is such a “lovely person,” according to Julia Bartlett, who works at a farm shop Dame Penelope used to frequent.
“She knew us all by name… [and] would remember whatever we told her about us,” she said to BBC Radio Surrey.
“I feel very special,” Bartlett said, adding that Dame Penelope’s husband had invited her to the burial because she had wanted her to be present. That was completely unexpected by me.
The star of To The Manor Born, Dame Penelope, “died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home” on June 29.
According to Witley & Milford Parish Council, “those who met her locally will also remember her kindness, her humour, and her genuine interest in the community she called home.” She was a well-known figure at community events.We will miss her terribly and remember her with a great deal of love.