Funeral Archives - H Touring Bikes

Motorcycle enthusiasts paid their respects to BBC radio personality Johnnie Walker by joining his funeral procession as he was laid to rest.

Among the attendees at St Peter’s Church in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on Friday were Robert Plant, the lead singer of Led Zeppelin, and Walker’s former colleagues from BBC Radio 2.

After the memorial service, friends and family, including Walker’s wife Tiggy—who wore pink—gathered to witness a cortege of Harley Davidson riders escorting the DJ’s hearse.

His passing at the age of 79 was announced on Radio 2 by Bob Harris on New Year’s Eve, who had taken over Walker’s Sounds Of The 70s show in November.

Following the service, Radio 2 presenters Tony Blackburn and Jeremy Vine conversed alongside their former colleague Ken Bruce, who left the BBC in 2023 to join Bauer’s Greatest Hits Radio.

A female with her arm linked with Robert Plant — Robert Plant was among the mourners (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Present at the funeral were BBC and ITV sports presenter John Inverdale, former BBC radio host Simon Mayo, Harris, radio personality Paul Gambaccini, BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley, and Green Wing actress Pippa Haywood.

Walker retired due to health issues, stepping away from his Radio 2 show The Rock Show last October after being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Tiggy Walker (left) chats with Harley Davidson riders who are escorting her husband's hearse in tribute — Tiggy Walker (left) converses with Harley Davidson riders escorting her husband’s hearse in tribute (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Wakeman had previously played a song at the memorial for former Countdown host Richard Whiteley.

On December 31, Tiggy honored him by recalling his “charming, humorous self to the end,” adding, “bless that extraordinary husband of mine, who is now in a place of peace.”

(left to right) Tony Blackburn, Ken Bruce and Jeremy Vine at the funeral of DJ Johnnie Walker — (left to right) Tony Blackburn, Ken Bruce, and Jeremy Vine at the funeral of DJ Johnnie Walker (PA)

According to the NHS, Walker’s condition, IPF, is one in which “the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult,” and currently “no treatment” is available to stop or reverse it.

Robert Plant, lead singer of Led Zeppelin, along with Johnnie Walker’s former colleagues from BBC Radio 2, came together to honor the late DJ at his funeral in Shaftesbury.

Walker passed away at the age of 79 in December, with the announcement of his death made on New Year’s Eve by Bob Harris, who took over hosting Walker’s Sounds Of The 70s show in November.

For the past three decades, he lived with his wife Tiggy in a 17th-century farmhouse in the north Dorset town, where he also broadcast his beloved radio show.

Harley Davidson riders gather behind the hearse to take part in a tribute following the funeral of DJ Johnnie Walker at St Peter’s Church in Shaftesbury (Image: Andrew Matthews) The funeral service took place at St Peter’s Church, where Walker’s wife Tiggy, clad in pink, and other friends and loved ones, witnessed the procession of Harley Davidson riders paying respects to the DJ’s hearse.

An enthusiastic rider of American motorcycles, Walker was honored with a “ride of honour” by fellow bikers, a tradition for deceased riders.

Among those in attendance were Simon Mayo, who spent nearly twenty years with BBC Radio 2 before leaving in 2018, along with radio luminaries Bob Harris, Jeremy Vine, and Tony Blackburn.

Robert Plant arrives at the funeral of DJ Johnnie Walker at St Peter’s Church in Shaftesbury, Dorset. Mr Walker, who hosted BBC Radio 2’s Sounds Of The 70s and The Rock Show, died on 31 December, aged 79. (Image: Andrew Matthews)

Dressed in black and dark blue, Plant had previously praised Walker in December, describing him as “a defender and gatekeeper of great musical taste, a cool, kind man who kept the bar high for all of us who loved him.”

Walker had retired due to health issues, stepping away from his Radio 2 show The Rock Show last October after being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Also in attendance were BBC and ITV sports presenter John Inverdale, former BBC presenter Suzi Perry, radio host Paul Gambaccini, BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley, and actress Pippa Haywood from Green Wing.

Jeremy Vine arrives at the funeral of DJ Johnnie Walker at St Peter’s Church in Shaftesbury, Dorset. (Image: Andrew Matthews) The keyboardist Rick Wakeman expressed his pride on X this Thursday for being asked by Tiggy, Walker’s wife, who supported him during his illness and assisted in producing his radio show from home, to perform at the service.

He delivered a heartfelt rendition of his song Gone But Not Forgotten, a piece he also shared at the memorial for the former Countdown host Richard Whiteley.

(Image: Andrew Matthews)

On December 31, Tiggy Walker paid tribute to her late husband, remarking that he remained his “charming, humorous self to the end”, and expressed, “bless that extraordinary husband of mine, who is now in a place of peace”.

The illness that Walker suffered from, IPF, leads to lung scarring and progressively worsening breathing difficulties. According to the NHS, there is “currently no treatment” that can halt or reverse this condition.