Crowd bursts into rendition of Bonnie Tyler hit as coffin returns home

A crowd made up of hundreds of Bonnie Tyler’s friends and fans burst into a rendition of Total Eclipse Of The Heart as her coffin was driven home.

The singer, whose real name was Gaynor Hopkins, died in July at the age of 75.

The streets of Mumbles, Swansea, where Tyler lived and was well-known among locals, were packed with people who knew and loved the singer on Saturday.

As the coffin, draped in the Welsh flag and accompanied by a framed photograph of the singer, made its way down Newton Road, the tearful crowd burst into applause and song.

Among those waiting to pay their respects to Tyler was Carys Edwards, 18, who says the singer was “an inspiration to everybody”.

She said: “Her music touched a lot of people, especially me.

“I’m quite surprised how many people came here today, but then not as well, because she was such an icon.

Bonnie Tyler’s real name was Gaynor Hopkins (Zoe Head-Thomas/PA)

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“She was always coming home and making sure that she came back to her fans in Wales.

“Her songs really did touch a lot of people here in Wales, we loved her a lot.

“When we found out she passed away, it was such a heartbreak to all of us. We cried and everything.”

Ms Edwards’s mother, Melanie Smith, 53, added: “Most importantly, she was a Swansea girl, and she didn’t forget that.”

Some fans had travelled from as far as Austria or Germany to watch the procession on Saturday but many knew Tyler from living locally.

Sarah Thomas, who lives in Swansea, described the singer as “a normal person who happened to be famous.”

Tony Firkins, a friend of Tyler and her family, said: “We’ve known her for years. She’s a fantastic lady, very generous with her time. It’s such a sad thing.”

Tyler was famous in Mumbles for her “fabulous” Christmas parties, attended by many locals as well as celebrities, at which she was known to perform Total Eclipse Of The Heart for her guests.

A throng of Bonnie Tyler fans in Newton Road in the Mumbles, Swansea (Zoe Head-Thomas/PA)

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Jan Roach, a friend, said: “We know the family very well and it’s been a tough time for all of us, not just friends, family, but I think the whole of Mumbles.

“She was so loved by many, many people, we’re so devastated, we’re still reeling from the loss of her.”

Among those attending was TV producer Russell T Davies, best known for reviving Doctor Who, who said in a post on Instagram he watched the procession with his sisters.

He said: “People threw flowers. Then – I’ve never seen this before – after the hearse had passed by, we all followed. To stay with her.”

A celebration of Tyler’s life, for family and friends, will take place at Swansea Minster on Monday, before the singer makes a final journey through her hometown of Skewen.

Tyler’s death came just months after she was treated in intensive care after being placed in an induced coma following an emergency intestinal surgery.

The singer achieved international fame in the 1980s with the release of Total Eclipse Of The Heart, which shot to the top of the charts in the UK and the US.

Faster Than The Speed Of Night, the album which featured the track, was also a chart-topping success and landed the singer her only UK number one album.

Recognisable for her husky voice, Tyler released many other hits, including Holding Out For A Hero, It’s A Heartache and If You Were A Woman (And I Was A Man).

She represented the UK in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, with the song Believe In Me, finishing in 19th place.