Johnnie Walker, the esteemed veteran radio DJ, was laid to rest, and his wife Tiggy expressed their satisfaction, stating they “couldn’t have bettered a thing” about his funeral.
In attendance at St Peter’s Church in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on Friday were Walker’s former colleagues from BBC Radio 2 and Led Zeppelin’s lead vocalist, Robert Plant. Tiggy believes that the service was one he would have truly “loved.”
A procession of motorbike enthusiasts riding Harley Davidsons, a passion of Walker’s, escorted his hearse following the ceremony.
“We couldn’t have bettered a thing about @piratejw’s send off yesterday,” shared Tiggy, who wore a vibrant pink suit for the occasion, on social media.
“The music was beautiful, the readings were fab & there was so much laughter. He left with Born To Run playing loudly! I’m sure he loved it.”
Walker passed away in December at the age of 79 after being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that leads to progressive lung scarring and makes breathing increasingly challenging, as noted by the NHS.
Tiggy, who supported him through his illness and assisted in producing his radio show from home, paid tribute to his ability to remain his “charming, humorous self to the end” in a heartfelt message shared on New Year’s Eve.
The Pallida Choir from Shaftesbury and Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman were among the performers at Walker’s service.
Prior to the funeral, Wakeman expressed his pride in being asked by Tiggy to perform his song Gone But Not Forgotten.
Walker’s passing was announced by Bob Harris on Radio 2 on New Year’s Eve; Harris recently took over hosting Walker’s Sounds Of The 70s show last November.
Among the attendees at the funeral were former BBC radio host Simon Mayo, Paul Gambaccini, BBC Radio 2’s Jo Whiley, sports presenter John Inverdale, and actress Pippa Haywood.
After the service, Radio 2’s Tony Blackburn and Jeremy Vine were spotted chatting with their former colleague Ken Bruce, who left the BBC for Bauer’s Greatest Hits Radio in 2023.
In early October, Walker announced his retirement from radio after an impressive 58-year career, due to his diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Shaun Keaveny has taken over the hosting of Radio 2’s Rock Show since Walker departed in October.
Tiggy, the wife of veteran radio DJ Johnnie Walker, expressed that they “couldn’t have bettered a thing” regarding his funeral after he was laid to rest.
On Friday, Tiggy was accompanied by Walker’s former colleagues from BBC Radio 2 and Led Zeppelin’s lead singer Robert Plant at St Peter’s Church in Shaftesbury, Dorset, for a service she believes he “loved.”
A procession of motorbike riders on Harley Davidsons, a passion of Walker’s, escorted the DJ’s hearse following the funeral.
“We couldn’t have bettered a thing about @piratejw’s send-off yesterday,” Tiggy shared on social media, dressed in a vibrant pink suit for the occasion.
“Beautiful music, fab readings & so much laughter. He left with Born To Run blasting! I’m sure he loved it.”
Walker passed away in December at the age of 79 after being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that causes lung scarring and makes breathing increasingly difficult, as per the NHS.
Tiggy, who cared for him throughout his illness and assisted in producing his radio show at home, honored him in a tribute shared on New Year’s Eve, commending him for remaining his “charming, humorous self to the end.”
The Pallida Choir from Shaftesbury and Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman were notable performers at Walker’s service.
Before the funeral, Wakeman expressed that he was “very proud” to have been asked by Tiggy to perform his piece Gone But Not Forgotten.
Bob Harris announced Walker’s death on Radio 2 on New Year’s Eve; he had taken over the DJ’s Sounds Of The 70s show the previous November.
In attendance at the funeral were also Bob Harris, former BBC radio host Simon Mayo, radio presenter Paul Gambaccini, BBC Radio 2’s Jo Whiley, BBC and ITV sports anchor John Inverdale, and actress Pippa Haywood, known from Green Wing.
Post-service, Radio 2 presenters Tony Blackburn and Jeremy Vine were spotted conversing with their former colleague Ken Bruce, who has moved to Bauer’s Greatest Hits Radio in 2023.
Walker had announced his retirement from radio in early October after a 58-year career, following his diagnosis with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Shaun Keaveny succeeded Walker as host of Radio 2’s Rock Show after Walker stepped down in October.
Bikers have honored the 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 Led Zeppelin’s lead singer Robert Plant and Walker’s former colleagues from BBC Radio 2.
After the memorial service concluded, friends and family, including Walker’s wife Tiggy—dressed in pink—convened to observe a procession of Harley Davidson riders accompanying the DJ’s hearse.
Walker was a passionate rider of American motorcycles, and the biking community organizes a “ride of honour” to pay tribute to deceased bikers.
His passing at the age of 79 was announced on Radio 2 on New Year’s Eve by Bob Harris, who succeeded the veteran DJ on the Sounds Of The 70s show back in November.
Post-service, Radio 2 hosts Tony Blackburn and Jeremy Vine conversed with their former colleague Ken Bruce, who transitioned from the BBC to Bauer’s Greatest Hits Radio in 2023.
Plant, dressed in black and dark blue attire, previously honored Walker in December, describing him as “a defender and gatekeeper of great musical taste, a cool, kind man who set the bar high for all of us who cherished him”.
Other notable attendees included BBC and ITV sports presenter John Inverdale, former BBC radio personality Simon Mayo, Bob Harris, radio host Paul Gambaccini, BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley, and Green Wing actress Pippa Haywood.
Walker stepped back from his career due to health issues, leaving his Radio 2 show The Rock Show last October after being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Before the memorial began, Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman expressed on X that he felt “very proud” that Tiggy invited him to perform his song Gone But Not Forgotten at the funeral.
Wakeman had previously performed this song at the memorial for former Countdown host Richard Whiteley.
On December 31, Tiggy honored him, noting he remained his “charming, humorous self to the end” and remarked, “bless that extraordinary husband of mine, who is now in a place of peace.”
Tiggy provided him care during his struggle with lung disease and assisted in producing his radio show from home.
Walker’s IPF condition is characterized by lung scarring, making breathing progressively challenging, with no available treatment to halt or reverse it, according to the NHS.
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.
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).
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.