Stars join 200 to say farewell to 'authentic' columnist

THREE whistling arrows marked the passing of James Whale yesterday as family and friends said their last goodbyes to the veteran broadcaster, Daily Express columnist and archery fan.

- By Matt Nixson

Nearly 200 mourners including TV host Eamonn Holmes packed St Nicholas' Church in Boughton Malherbe, near his Kent home.

He was buried in a woven wool coffin, carried in to the sound of When Will I Be Famous? by Bros - the band's Matt Goss later sang In The Wee Small Hours and there were readings by Tory MP Tom Tugendhat and by Braveheart actor James Cosmo.

His widow Nadine Lamont-Brown paid tribute to James's "dignified bravery" as he battled the kidney cancer that killed him at 74.