Coronation Street stars pay their final respects to Jack Duckworth actor Bill Tarmey (GALLERY)

Nov 27 2012 By Cheryl Mullin

“In my early days at Corrie he was like a surrogate dad to me and Alan (Halsall). I’ll never forget how he and Liz guided Alan and I through those first years on the programme.

She spoke of Tarmey and Dawn, who attended the service in a wheelchair, as being “truly talented actors”.

“Their timing was perfect and they had this most amazing bond together,” she said. “They were almost telepathic in their approach.”

The Rev Paul Stringer told the congregation about Tarmey's upbringing and family life – letting the congregation into a couple of family secrets.

Unlike his gambling, pigeon-fancying character, Tarmey had hardly ever visited a bookies and he was not that keen on pigeons.

“Bill worked hard to develop his skills as an actor,” he added. “He learnt by watching and observing.

“Bill was loved by all at Coronation Street. He also knew that the work that went on behind the scenes was just as important as that which appeared on the screen.”

Personal photographs of Tarmey were shown on screen to the congregation in a moment of reflection as his rendition of The Wind Beneath My Wings – which he sang on This Is Your Life in 1992 – was played.

As the coffin was carried out into the aisle, spontaneous applause broke out.A private committal followed the ceremony.

In the order of service, the family asked for donations to Brain Tumour Research.Tarmey’s son, Carl, has been battling a brain tumour.