Vegetable wreath tribute for funeral of Withnail star

Stars including Daniel Radcliffe, Michael Palin and Alan Bennett were among 400 mourners at the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-Upon-Avon yesterday.

Grant’s wreath included several large carrots – a reference to the scene in the cult film where Griffiths’ eccentric Uncle Monty tells the two main characters of his love of root vegetables insisting: “There is a certain je ne sais quoi – oh, so very special – about a firm, young carrot.”

Dame Judi Dench sent a more traditional floral tribute – a single rose.

The Yorkshire-born actor, who appeared as Uncle Vernon Dursley in the Potter films, died last month from complications following heart surgery.

Downton Abbey star Penelope Wilton read from Edward Lear’s The Owl and the Pussycat and his three sons also spoke at the service in the church where Shakespeare was baptised and buried.

His agent Simon Beresford said: “It was a sad day but there were also lots of smiles and laughs.

“It was a wonderful celebration of Richard’s life.”

Griffiths’ death at the age of 65 followed a stellar career on stage and screen which drew him plaudits on both sides of the Atlantic.