08/06/12….Thame says ‘good bye’ to Robin Gibb

HUNDRED of local people and fans from far and wide, gathered in the centre of Thame this afternoon to pay their last respects to music legend, Robin Gibb who was laid to rest in the town today.

As the white, glass-sided carriage passed by, drawn by four black, plumed horses, people gazed at the coffin containing Robin’s remains, draped at one end with the red flag of his place of birth, the Isle of Man.

Several fans stepped off the pavement and threw red and white roses at the carriage and one grief-stricken woman rushed forward to touch Robin’s two Wolf hound dogs before being gently led away by friends.

Along with members of his family, including brother Barry, wife Dwina and sons Robin John and Spencer, and daughter, Melissa, Robin’s mother, now in her 90s witnessed the burial of her third son. During the service, Spencer and Melissa read tributes to their father, as did his surviving brother Barry and Dwina read a poem she had written specially called ‘My Songbird Has Flown’.

Here are the words:

‘My songbird has flown and the world sighs.
‘The gentle mouthpiece of his immortal muse has gone
‘And no music can be heard that is sweeter than the language of his love,
‘No diamond is more precious than the memory of the twinkling in his eyes,
‘And no treasure in the lands will replace his happy smile.

‘My songbird has flown and the world sighs.
‘And if I were to paint a third of what I feel,
‘A masterpiece would be yours
‘To have and to hold and hang upon you wall.
‘If I were to write the the words that spill from my heart, tomes and volumes would make your library wide and tall.

‘If I were to sing songs of praise for him, Saints would rise to make a chorus fit to please angel heralds.
‘And if I were to make music for his gentle ear, celestial harmonies would dance in all the worlds.

‘And so no more, his voice now stilled but never gone.
‘A depth of silence reigns where once he had his say.
‘The veil of night has fallen
‘But a dawn of the divine will rise for a new day.

‘My songbird has flown and my soul sighs – but he will never go away.’

Around 200 other invited guests attended Robin’s private funeral service at St Mary’s Church, Thame, including many representatives from the world of show business, and other friends. Peter Andre, who appeared in a TV documentary about Thame Carnival last year with Robin, was there, as well as Mark Knopfler, Sir Tim Rice, DJ Mike Read, Paul Gambuccini, veteran actor, Leslie Phillips, Actress Susan George and Yuri Geller among others.

The pallbearers were Robin’s sons RJ and Spencer, together with Stevie Gibb, Barry’s son and Steven Murphy, Dwina’s son.

Young air cadets from 594 Squadron in Thame, formed a guard of honour as Robin’s coffin was carried from out of the side door of the church to the grave side for burial. Two years ago, a bond between them and Robin had been formed when he officially opened their new HQ in Windmill Road, Thame,

Wreaths at the grave side included a treble clef and music notes formed of red roses, each with a personal note from family members.

Though it was very windy, thankfully, the rain kept off and there was a glimmer of sunshine during Robin’s interment.

Once the illustrious guests, the fans and well-wishers, the TV Outside Broadcast vans and all the paparazzi had gone away, Thame was able to return to normal life. But the town will never be quite the same again without its very own resident mega star, who leaves behind a musical legacy that will live on for generations.

As a banner hanging in the window of the Italian restaurant in the town, Mia Capri said: “Ciao Robin.”

PHOTO: Copyright https://www.thame.net – Dwina Gibb with son, Robin-John walk from the church back to their home, The Prebendal, after the funeral today. MORE: Memorable moments slideshow LINK