Thousands of fans gathered in the Welsh village of Mumbles on Saturday, August 15, to applaud as the hearse of singer Bonnie Tyler passed by.
The coffin of the 1980s pop icon was draped in the Welsh flag as it moved through the crowded streets to the sound of her hit song Total Eclipse of the Heart, with onlookers throwing flowers along the route.
Crowds filled the village to pay their respects ahead of her funeral service. Carys Edwards, 18, told British news agency PA that she and others were devastated when they learned of Tyler's death, adding that the singer's music touched many people and that she was a true icon. Her mother, Melanie Smith, 53, emphasized the singer's deep roots in South Wales, noting that Tyler was a Swansea girl who never forgot her hometown.
Tributes from traveling fans
Mumbles, a coastal village near Swansea, drew mourners from across the United Kingdom. Michael Bone, 58, traveled from Derby in northern England with his partner Alan Hawkins to honor the singer. Bone said that they felt it was important to pay tribute, recalling that Tyler's music was everywhere during his teenage years.
Born Gaynor Hopkins in 1951 in nearby Skewen, the singer was talent-spotted while performing in a local nightclub in 1975. Throughout a career spanning decades, she maintained her distinctive Welsh accent and strong ties to the region.
Illness and funeral details
Tyler died on July 8 in Portugal, where she owned a home, at the age of 75. She had been admitted to hospital in Faro in early May for intestinal surgery before being placed in a medically induced coma.
Her death came shortly after she released the single Only Love and while she was preparing for a multi-month European tour. Known worldwide for her raspy vocal style, her classic recordings include Holding Out For a Hero and It's a Heartache.
Her funeral will take place on Monday, August 17, at Swansea Cathedral, followed by a private ceremony. A statement released by her family described her as a warm and generous artist whose music touched multiple generations and continues to fill dance floors and karaoke venues across the globe.
