Linda Nolan’s fans camped outside St Paul’s Church in Blackpool this morning as they paid their respects to the late singer, hailing her as “brave” and “inspirational”
Fans lined the streets of Blackpool today to say their final farewells to Linda Nolan, who died last month at the age of 65, surrounded by her devoted siblings.
The beloved star’s funeral service took place at St Paul’s Church, the same place where Linda exchanged vows with her “soulmate” husband, the late Brian Hudson, in the summer of 1981. Mourners then proceeded to the crematorium, in a day that celebrated Linda’s “extraordinary life”.
Blackpool, the town where the Dublin-born Nolan sisters first found fame and have lived for much of their lives, is said to have been Linda’s “spiritual home” Among those paying their respects to Linda today was Sharon Bull, 51, from Corby, who said Linda’s death had left her feeling as though she had “lost a friend.”
She said: “I met Linda at 16 in her dressing room, she was with her husband, Brian. That was 1989. I absolutely loved Linda. Her voice was amazing.
“I remember the first time I shook her hand, I was about nine, I said I’d never wash it. She wrote to me over the years thanking me when I sent her gifts. I was a super fan and I feel I have lost a friend.”
She added: “I have been very upset. I’ve been devastated. She’s left me with such fond memories, loads of memories. She is an unforgettable person.”
James Morris, 59, from Blackpool, told a sweet story of how he met Linda when he was working at a train station, and she never forgot him.
“I first met her at Preston station and she fell badly, I helped her up. Ever since I’ve always spoken to her when I saw her,” he said.
“I wanted to pay my respects. Even that day she got up and started laughing, she was brave. She went through the wars and back and always smiled. That day she was lovely and ever since she always said hello. I saw her once in 86 at Maggie Mays and thought she was a star.”
Beverley Higgerson, 68, from Blackburn, is a breast cancer survivor who has been left “inspired” by Linda’s legacy. “I went through breast cancer five years ago and I’m in remission,” she said.
“Someone who went through it for twenty years deserves respect. She handled it very well, she inspired me. I wanted to pay my respects to someone who fought that battle for 20 years.”
Among those camped outside the church was Steve Buchanan, 62, from Salford. Recalling seeing Linda perform, he said: “My mam got me free tickets each year from her firm in Salford. I was 16 and I liked the music, I grew up with it. I always followed Linda’s story and she was brave. I take my hat off to her.”
The Nolans are also 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 would like to leave a tribute to Linda, please visit linda-nolan.muchloved.com