Applause so loud mourners can hear it in pews

Calls of “Jimmy” rang out from the thousands gathered outside the cathedral as seven Royal Marines marched forward to carry his gold-coloured casket inside.

Those gathered outside on a dull November afternoon included people from all walks of life who had gathered to pay their respects to a “Leeds lad done good”.

Market trader, Betty Ruston, 81, from Leeds, said: “He gave so much and didn’t ask for anything back.”

Arthur Roche, Bishop of Leeds, sprinkled the coffin with holy water before it was carried to the front of the cathedral, in the centre of Leeds.

Addressing the congregation, Bishop Roche spoke of Sir Jimmy’s charitable work and said he had a “colourful and charitable life.”

Monsignor Kieran Heskin, giving the homily, said: “Sir Jimmy Savile can face eternal life with confidence.

“His life story was an epic of giving – giving of time, giving of talent, giving of treasure.”

At the Requiem mass he spoke of how many at the cathedral would be familiar with Sir Jimmy sneaking quietly in and standing inside the cathedral doors to worship on a regular basis. Not at all like the more exuberant performer most knew.

Inside the cathedral hundreds paid their respects including family and friends, civic dignitaries, including the chief executive of Leeds City Council, Tom Riordan; Peter Salmon, head of the BBC in the North; Dr Ingrid Roscoe, Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, who was representing Prince Charles; and well-known names including the DJ Mike Read and boxer Frank Bruno.

On an easel stood a portrait of Sir Jimmy in rose-tinted spectacles, the showman, looking over mourners in a contemplative pose.

Nephew Roger Foster told the congregation Sir Jimmy was “my friend, my mentor, my uncle”.

Allison Graham, of Stoke Mandeville Hospital for which Sir Jimmy helped to raise millions of pounds, told the mourners: “He brought a little bit of magic and sparkle to everybody he met.”

The funeral was preceded by a procession through the streets of the city, leaving from The Queens Hotel, in the city centre, where on Tuesday around 5,000 people visited Sir Jimmy’s gold-coloured coffin to pay their respects

Two hearses were parked outside the hotel, one full of flowers from mourners.

One wreath spelt out the numbers 208 in yellow and white flowers – the frequency for Radio Luxembourg, where Sir Jimmy once worked.

Other bouquets had been sent from cruise company Cunard, with which the DJ had links, the BBC, the lord mayor of Leeds, and members of the official fan club.

Unemployed Terry O’Shea, 58, from Dewsbury, wearing a gold cowboy hat and a neckful of jewellery in tribute to Sir Jimmy, said: “I used to work as a porter at a Leeds department store in the late 1960s. Jimmy used to come in and chat. He was a man of the people.”

After the cortege left the Queens it drove past Sir Jimmy’s childhood home and Leeds General Infirmary before arriving at the cathedral.

Many of those speaking at yesterday’s funeral told how Sir Jimmy loved the simple things in life; going out for a run with his friends, or enjoying Sunday lunch.

His friend Howard Silverman, a 63-year-old Leeds hairdresser who gave one of five eulogies at the service, told how his friend was someone who always kept his promises to his friends.

As the coffin left the cathedral, a bugler played Last Post.

Loud applause broke out inside the cathedral as his coffin was taken outside.

Members of his family appeared visibly moved at the spontaneous gesture.

At the back of the order of service there was a picture of a younger Sir Jimmy, a giant grin on his face, trademark cigar in his mouth, with the words: “How’s about that then?” Which seemed to sum up both the man and the day perfectly.

City urged to honour him

Members of the public who lined streets in the city yesterday to pay their respects said it was time for Leeds to honour Sir Jimmy’s legacy.

“They should name something in his honour at the Leeds General Infirmary,” said Dympna Hewson, 63. “I also hope they have a statue of him in Leeds. He raised £40m so they should make a hero of him. The Catholic Church has recognised his value and the people of Leeds have too, which is lovely.”

Retired nurse Michael Steele, 77, from Morley, Leeds, met Sir Jimmy during a 26-mile walk in the 1970s.

“He could be serious and funny.

“I used to see him in the Cathedral during the day, he would be praying,” he said.