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Stars' respects for radio legend Dave Kilner - VIDEO
LET'S Get Rocked, Is This The Way To Amarillo and St Elmo's Fire are not the songs you might expect at an ordinary funeral.
But when the mourners include the stars of the songs, you know the person being honoured has to be extraordinary.
And Dave Kilner, the voice of Sheffield radio, who championed showbiz careers and helped to raise millions of pounds for charities, was all that - said his many celebrity and sporting pals at Sheffield Cathedral.
Def Leppard's Rick Savage, singers Tony Christie, John Parr and Steve Womack, Sheffield United great Tony Currie, current Blades captain Chris Morgan and Sheffield Eagles legend Mark Aston were all there.
So were former DJ colleagues including ex-Magic AM and now Radio Sheffield's Howard Pressman, plus Hallam FM's breakfast show presenter 'Big' John Harrison.
Sheffield born-and-bred, Dave, aged 48, who lived in Whirlow, was the best-known DJ in South Yorkshire for many years.
Most recently, he spearheaded Hallam FM's Cash For Kids charity, formerly Help a Hallam Child.
A Blade to his core, he had a close connection with Sheffield United, where he was host at the Platinum Suite. But he was well-loved across the city's footballing divide.
He died recently in the Royal Hallamshire Hospital after a short illness.
Click here to leave your tribute in our book of condolence for Dave Kilner
The 45-minute service was led by Canon Dr Paul Shackerley, the Vice Dean, and was followed by a private family ceremony at Hutcliffe Wood.
Before the service, Def Leppard's Rick Savage told The Star that his memories of the DJ were "too many to mention."
"We mutually gave each other helping hands at the beginning of our careers and that blossomed into an ongoing friendship," the rocker said.
"This is a really sad day," he added.
Singing legend Tony Christie also paid tribute to the man he described as "one of the nicest you could ever hope to meet."
"I didn't realise he was so young, as he seems to have been a part of my life for such a long time," said the 66-year-old.
"He absolutely would have carried on with his charity work, that was the man.
"His heart was in his charity work, especially children's charities."
Musician John Parr called Dave "my champion," and said he was a "fantastic DJ who was passionate about music and not about himself."
Hallam FM's 'Big' John Harrison also attended the service and described Dave as "Mr Hallam."
"Hallam FM wouldn't be the radio station it is today if it weren't for Dave Kilner," said the breakfast presenter.
"It is the radio station he helped to set up.
He was an inspiring man."
The voice of Sheffield United matchdays, Gary Sinclair, called Dave "an imaginative person who was a great friend and brilliant with a microphone."
"We were like bookends on matchdays, bouncing off each other," he said with a smile.
Sheffield Eagles boss Mark Aston said he was "devastated" by the news of his friend's death and called him "a true gentleman."
Speeches were also made during the service by Steve King, former programme director of Hallam FM, Tony Currie, Sheffield United legend and now club ambassador, along with Alison Ward, former fundraiser for Help A Hallam Child.
But the most tear-jerking of all the speeches was made by his two daughters, Rebecca and Nicola.
Dave's widow Shirley listened as the two girls paid a touching tribute to the man they said to them was always 'just Dad.'
In closing they said: "Dad, we hope we continue to make you proud.
"We'll miss you forever and love you for eternity."
A selection of Dave's favourite songs were played in the Cathedral, including songs by his pals, Wind Beneath My Wings and Is This The Way To Amarillo, by Tony Christie, St Elmo's Fire by John Parr and the Def Leppard classic, Let's Get Rocked.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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