Fans gathered in the Welsh hometown of singer Bonnie Tyler on Saturday to pay tribute as her coffin arrived for a memorial procession ahead of her funeral on Monday. Tyler, whose real name was Gaynor Hopkins, died at the age of 75 in a hospital in Portugal on July 8, following complications from emergency intestinal surgery.
The procession took place in Mumbles, Swansea, as her coffin made its way to her home, Fernhill. Crowds lined Newton Road, singing renditions of her hit song "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and applauding as the hearse passed. Many fans appeared emotional, with some embracing each other.
The coffin was draped in the Welsh flag and accompanied by a framed photograph of the singer. Fans threw flowers onto the hearse, and many followed it in respectful silence as it approached Fernhill. Tributes were also left outside her home.
A statement from William Pressdee Funeralcare, on behalf of the family, noted that a private family service would be held on Monday, August 17, followed by a committal service in Skewen.
Fans were invited by the family to donate to two charities Tyler supported: the Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales and Cerebral Palsy Cymru, rather than sending flowers. The funeral home added, "Her legacy lives on in the timeless songs that made her a legend."
Bonnie Tyler, known for hits like "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding Out For A Hero," had a career spanning nearly 50 years. She was the first Welsh person to reach number one in America with "Total Eclipse of the Heart" in 1983 and represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013.