Jasper Carrott in tribute to Rachael Heyhoe Flint
Brummie comedian Jasper Carrott has paid tribute to the late Baroness Rachael Heyhoe Flint – calling her someone 'you'd do absolutely anything for'.
The Wolves vice-president and ex-England women's cricket captain died on January 18 aged 77 following a short battle with cancer.
Speaking about her, Carrott said hearing the news of Rachael's death was 'one of the saddest moments' of his life. "I was really close to her," he said. "It sounds so cliched, but when she walked into a room she honestly lit it up.
"When she left, you'd have to put a light on. I did a few charity things for her over the years. I always called them the 'Heyhoe stitch-ups'. We always laughed about the time she got me to do a carol thing at Christmas time at Molineux. I was supposed to sing Jingle Bells and it was absolutely pouring with rain.
"So there I was, stood before hundreds of people, under an umbrella in torrential rain – people were freezing to death. In the end I didn't sing at all. I read out a reading.
"But for Rachael, you'd do absolutely anything – she was just that kind of person."
Hundreds of people gathered outside St Peter's Church in Wolverhampton on Wednesday, with the city centre coming to a standstill to pay tribute to the Wolves vice-president and ex-England women's cricket captain. It was the biggest public outpouring since the funeral of her friend Sir Jack Hayward two years ago.
Lyricist Sir Tim Rice, Sir Trevor Brooking, Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis, former England cricket captain Mike Gatting and broadcasters Judith Chalmers, Suzi Perry and Jacqui Oatley were among the mourners.
Angela Rippon gave an emotional eulogy, saying that Rachael had 'stolen our hearts'. Steve Bull, Danny Baath and Don Goodman attended as well as manager Paul Lambert and Steve Morgan and ex-chief executive Jez Moxey.
