Janey Godley’s coffin passes hundreds of tearful fans ahead of funeral

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Janey Godley had a beautiful send-off in Edinburgh earlier today (Picture: PA/Getty)

Countless fans paid tribute to the late Scottish comedian Janey Godley during her ‘final tour’ of Edinburgh.

Godley died on November 2, aged 63, from stage four ovarian cancer, and was fondly remembered by many public figures including Nicola Sturgeon, Denise Welch and Nigella Lawson.

After finding viral fame with her witty online skits mimicking Sturgeon at Covid-19 briefings during the pandemic, she became a regular on BBC radio.

She was praised for her vocal pro-trans stance, always showing solidarity with the community, and for being an outspoken critic of Donald Trump since 2016.

Earlier today her hearse – which was engraved with her catchphrase ‘Frank, Get The Door!’ -travelled along the Royal Mile towards St Giles Cathedral where it would ‘pause for reflection’.

It was accompanied by a 100-strong female Sound House choir and close friend Shirley Doig.

Janey Godley's hearse which is engraved with the phrase 'Frank, Get The Door' surrounded by crowds of people
Godley’s hearse travelled through the ‘city she loved’ (Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
Ashley Storrie, daughter of Scottish comedian Janey Godley watches as the hearse carrying her mother travels through Edinburgh
Daughter, Ashley Storrie, was visibly moved by the proceedings (Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
People line the streets as Scottish comedian Janey Godley's hearse travels through Edinburgh
Hundreds showed up to applaud her memory and shower the hearse in roses (Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

The choir sang a medley of songs including Movin’ On Up by Primal Scream and One Day Like This by Elbow.

Her daughter Ashley Storrie was also present and shared a sweet message of remembrance on social media to explain the reasons for the public procession.

She posted: ‘For the past few years of Ma’s life it was important to her that she shared her journey with everyone, to offer support for others on the same path and to highlight the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer – all of course in her very singular Janey style, with laughter and candour.

‘So many of you who have travelled with us on this journey wish to be bid her a final farewell…’

The hearse will then travel onto Glasgow so that she could do a ‘final tour’ of the ‘two cities she loved with all her heart’. A private crematorium will take place on Saturday.

As hundreds lined the streets to say their last goodbye multiple rounds of applause were heard and roses thrown, with people travelling from as far as Germany to pay their respects.

People line the streets as Scottish comedian Janey Godley's hearse travels through Edinburgh
The hearse will now travel onto Glasgow where a private crematorium will take place (Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
People wearing t-shirts featuring the catch-phrase 'Frank Get The Door!' line the streets as Scottish comedian Janey Godley's hearse travels through Edinburgh
She’ll be remembered for her sharp wit and unflinching humour (Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

‘A great send off for Janey Godley in Edinburgh this afternoon…’ X user Mike McNulty shared.

‘Edinburgh gave Janey Godley a good send off today!,’ Angie Brown agreed.

Godley was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021 and was public about her diagnosis.

She died peacefully at Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow ‘surrounded by loved ones’.

Janey Godley wearing a white and black t-shirt and pink headband
She used her platform to raise awareness of ovarian cancer to the end (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

In a messages to her 202k followers, her daughter wrote: ‘I want to thank all of you for all of your kindness and your support. I believe in my heart of hearts that she felt every bit of love sent to her and I think it kept her going.

‘I think it genuinely got her longer because of all of the support and love in the world, but that’s it, it’s over now so thank you once again and bye Ma.’

Former First Minister of Scotland Sturgeon, who later become friends with Godley, also posted a touching tribute.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, she wrote: ‘Janey Godley truly was a force of nature, and one of the funniest people I have ever known. I was able to visit her in the hospice a couple of weeks ago and though she was fragile, she still had me in stitches.

‘Janey was also incredibly kind. And she made the world a better place.’

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