Linda Nolan's funeral: Glitterball send-off for life and soul pop legend

Against the black clothes of the mourners, the fuschia pink glitter of the coffin Linda Nolan bravely chose for herself over a year ago, shone almost neon. Winter sun streamed through the stained glass of the church, as pallbearers carried her towards the altar, making it dance and dazzle like a glitterball.

It was absolutely what the self-christened ‘blingiest Nolan’, the life and soul of every party, would have wanted. Only she could bring the dance floor to her own funeral.

This was the pop legend’s final curtain call . Her last, sparkling bow was a reminder to us all that a light which had shone that brightly in life could never truly be extinguished by death.

The I’m In The Mood singer was laid to rest yesterday in her hometown of Blackpool on a bitterly cold morning. The church service at St Paul's, the church where Linda had married her husband Brian in 1981, and in 2007, attended his funeral, was held at 10.30am - which would have made night owl Linda - the sixth of eight children - groan, friends chuckled.

As heartbroken fans lined the streets, Linda’s devoted family, her “cavalry” as she called them, huddled behind her. Elder sister Denise, 72, pale-faced and stumbling; youngest, Coleen, 59, head down and sobbing.

Reading a deeply personal eulogy, Denise, who had cared for Linda in her home during the final 18 months of her long battle with cancer, laughed between tears, admitting Linda “would have LOVED all the fuss today.”

“She was always the life and soul of any big occasion,” she smiled. “I know if she was here today, she would say, ‘If you can’t think of me and smile, don’t think of me at all.’

“I will always treasure her courage in the face of adversity, more adversity than anyone should have to suffer. Her sense of right and wrong… Her love, loyalty and generosity to family, friends and fans.

“But most of all her sense of humour, which sustained her through so much sorrow. She was a one off, with a great love of life and living. No party will ever be the same again.”

Raising loud laughs as she recalled Linda’s dry wit; how she’d give you “the eye”, “play the cancer card” and never say no to a Peach Melba, a Mr Whippy or a G&T (her nieces and nephews called her ‘Auntie Ginda’), her face crumbled, as she turned to the coffin to say a final goodbye.

Reflecting on her sister’s long illness, Brian’s loss and that of their sister Bernie to breast cancer in 2013, she said: “It’s time to rest now, Linda. Your Battle is over. You are free.”

Linda died on January 15, just a month shy of her 66th birthday, after developing double pneumonia following “a bout of flu” over Christmas.

Her struggle with cancer had been long. In spring 2023, the Daily Mirror columnist announced secondary breast cancer, which was first diagnosed 20 years ago, had spread to her brain. This followed the news in 2017 it had been found in her hip, and in 2020, her liver. She had since documented living with the incurable disease each week, with moving honesty and trademark humour.

Following her death in hospital, Blackpool lit up its iconic tower in pink to honour the Irish-born star who moved there as a child.

Mourners at the service to commemorate her life yesterday morning, followed by an intimate committal at a nearby crematorium, seemed in shock nonetheless.

From Linda’s large family, to old school friends, and celebrity pals including Chuckle Brother Paul Elliot, 77, comic Tommy Cannon, 86, So Solid Crew star Lisa Maffia, 45, and Corrie actress Jodie Prenger, 45, and her Blood Brothers co-stars including Shirley Ballas ’ ex Danny Taylor all said the same. It had felt like Linda would never truly leave.

Her coffin was carried into the church, filled with some 300 mourners, to There You’ll Be, by Faith Hill, which she and Brian had chosen together for their funerals, and placed beside their smiling wedding photograph.

The Reverend Lesley Atkins reminded us: “We have come together this morning because we loved someone, someone special called Linda. Our lives are more beautiful because we knew her.”

Following Psalm 23, The Lord Is My Shepherd, Denise reminded us of Linda, the girl star, who, as part of The Nolans, sold over 30 million records, making them one of the biggest-selling girl groups of all time.

“She was the one who sang ‘Big Spender’ aged about eight in the clubs, and outdid Bassey for sass and performance,” she said.

Thanking Linda’s abundance of friends and her hospital team, she added: “She never complained about her illness. When she was having a bad day, (she called it a ‘duvet day’) she didn’t come down till she felt better. She had a public face that said ‘I’m living with cancer, NOT dying with it.

“She chose to help raise millions of pounds for cancer research, becoming a patron for dozens of charities… She gave so much of her time to these and many others, even when she was feeling very unwell.”

After the eulogy came a recording of Linda’s own crystal clear voice singing the ballad When It’s Over, which she had repeatedly belted out during her decade-long stint as Maggie May on Blackpool’s Central Pier.

“There’s really nothing more I can say,” she sang. “Goodbye…” Her final note was met with the loudest applause and whoops.

Music ran through the centre of the service like a stick of Blackpool rock.

For its one hymn, I Watch The Sunrise, the Nolans at the front hit the high notes of the line ‘May I always be close to you’ perfectly. Few funeral hymns ever sounded so beautiful.

At the crematorium, Twelfth of Never, was chosen from Linda’s good friend Donny Osmond, who she met in the 1970s - because she sang it from the audience with her idol in 2017 when he performed in Liverpool.

And God Knows, a track from The Nolans’ 1982 album, Portrait, which Linda performed solo the following year during a BBC TV special.

Poems were also read by Linda’s great nephew Vinny Palmer, her elder sister Anne’s grandson, and by her own granddaughter, Lucy Houliston. While Linda and Brian never had children together, a decision she said was her “one regret”, Brian had two from previous relationships who she adored, and who adored her back.

Carried from the church by pallbearers including Coleen’s sons Shane jr and Jake, her coffin sparkled in the sunlight, although her family looked increasingly broken. Denise sobbed openly.

Decked with red roses, cards and floral tributes - Linda’s coffin received a standing ovation from applauding crowds, as it was taken to the crematorium. Her ashes will be laid to rest with Brian's.

“She was a beautiful girl,” said comedian Paul Chuckle. “She was a great friend to me.”

Close-by, Sharon Bull, 51, a landlady from Corby, Northants - a superfan - said: “I met Linda at 16 in her dressing room in 1989, I absolutely loved her. She wrote to me over the years thanking me when I sent her gifts. I feel I have lost a friend. She is an unforgettable person.” Young or old, famous or not, everyone said that. This was their toast to the lady in pink who would, if she could have, raised her glass the highest of all.

The Nolans are raising money for their local Trinity House hospice, in Blackpool, which helped both Linda and her sister Bernie. If you'd like to donate or leave a tribute to Linda, please visit linda-nolan.muchloved.com

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