'There was no finer gentleman' Lord Levy leads tributes to Alvin Stardust at his funeral
A PROCESSION of Harley Davidson riders from the Owners' Club provided an escort for Alvin Stardust's coffin today, after his funeral.
Lord Levy lead tributes to Alvin Stardust at his funeral this afternoon
The My Coo Ca Choo star died last month aged 72 after a short illness; he had recently been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer.
Lord Levy, who is now a Labour member of the House of Lords, read a eulogy at the service held at a church in his adopted home Swansea.
Levy spoke at the funeral, explaining "there was no finer gentleman" than his close friend Alvin.
The chief fundraiser for the UK Labour Party signed the musician to his firm Magnet Records in the 1970s.
A troupe of Harley Davidson bikers followed Alvin's coffin to the funeral
Mourners gathered to say their final farewells
It's said a male voice choir performed Stardust's favourite hymn Calon Lân during the service and the reverend - Rev Steve Bunting - outed Alvin as someone who enjoyed sermons but snuck out before the end.
And the service was held at a poignant place in Alvin's history: the church where he and Julie Paton, his third wife, married.
The troupe of Harley Davidson riders escorted the singer's coffin at the request of his daughter Sophie.
Around 50 riders attended the service, with one saying it was "their way of paying their respects".
The order of service detailed Alvin's swan song
John Watson, road captain for the 200-strong Black Mountains Chapter of Wales said: "It's our way of paying our respects. We don't know if he rode motorbikes or was a fan, but one of the family has a Harley Davidson."
His manager Andy Davies spoke about the star at the time of his death. He said: "Alvin and I had only started working together over the last couple of years because he and I believed that musically he still had a great deal to give and explore and so we recorded and album that is a testament to an artist who gave his career to music.
"I may not have known him long but even in that short time he proved to be one of the most genuine and likeable men I've ever met. His passing is a huge and sad loss."