Motorbike riders have paid tribute to the BBC radio star Johnnie Walker by following his funeral procession as he is laid to rest.
Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant, as well as Walker’s former BBC Radio 2 colleagues, were among the mourners at St Peter’s Church in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on Friday for his funeral.
Following the memorial service finishing, friends and loved ones including Walker’s wife Tiggy – dressed in pink – gathered to watch the cortege of Harley Davidson riders escort the DJ’s hearse.
His death aged 79 was announced on Radio 2 on New Year’s Eve by Bob Harris, who took over the veteran DJ’s Sounds Of The 70s show in November.
Following the service, Radio 2 presenters Tony Blackburn, and Jeremy Vine stood together and chatted alongside their former colleague Ken Bruce, who left the BBC to join Bauer’s Greatest Hits Radio in 2023.
Also at the funeral was BBC and ITV sports presenter John Inverdale, former BBC radio star Simon Mayo, Harris, radio host Paul Gambaccini, BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley and Green Wing actress Pippa Haywood.
Walker retired because of ill health, also departing his Radio 2 show The Rock Show last year in October, after being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Wakeman previously played the song at the memorial of former Countdown host Richard Whiteley.
On December 31, Tiggy paid tribute to him as remaining his “charming, humorous self to the end”, and said “bless that extraordinary husband of mine, who is now in a place of peace”.
Walker’s condition IPF is one “in which the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult”, according to the NHS, which “currently no treatment” can stop or reverse.
