Laughter and tears at memorial event for Dankworth

Hundreds of friends and relatives laughed, cried and applauded as fellow entertainers paid their own personal tributes to the composer and musician, pictured, who died last month at the age of 82.

His widow, Dame Cleo Laine, was joined by her children and grandchildren in the front row of The Stables in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, which she set up with Sir John.

She was warmly applauded by the guests for taking part in a concert to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Stables on February 6, just hours after her husband died.

Film clips from Sir John's many TV performances were played during the memorial, as were touching home videos.

In one, recorded on his 82nd birthday last year, he was heard saying: "Of course, 39 today. I never thought I'd make it.

"I don't know how I've done it. If I knew I was going to make it, I'd have taken better care of myself."

The clip was met with laughter and applause from the audience.

Conductor Hilary Davan Wetton was one of many friends giving tributes, saying of Sir John: "Here was a man who was committed totally to everybody else's talent as well as his own.

"The word unique, as someone said at the crematorium, is overused. But in this case, it is the right word.

"What simply mattered was Music, with a big M."

Friends said how they knew the musician, who composed famous theme tunes including The Avengers and Tomorrow's World, as John or Johnny, as he had told them "the only person allowed to call him Sir John was the Queen", compere Richard Stilgoe told them.

His son Alec played bass in several performances before concluding by inviting the gathered musicians to take part in a "spontaneous jam session" later.

He added: "I think we've done Dad proud tonight", and the audience cheered.

A private funeral service took place earlier at Crownhill Crematorium, Milton Keynes.