A hometown farewell
Bonnie Tyler's songs echoed through her home town of Swansea in recent days, but on Monday the church bells stopped and wellwishers lining the streets fell silent as her coffin arrived for a service celebrating her life. As the white coffin, covered in bouquets of white roses, was carried into the minster, shouts of 'God bless you Bonnie' and 'bye Bonnie' punctured the quiet, before those gathered burst into applause. Tyler's 'If I Sing You a Love Song' and 'It's a Heartache' played before the private service began, which mourners outside watched on a screen in nearby St David's Square, as reported by The Guardian.
Thousands of mourners had lined the streets of Wales as the coffin returned home from Spain, creating an emotional farewell for the pop icon who died July 8 at age 75, according to reports from al.com, M Live Michigan, Mechanicsburg Patriot News, and Staten Island Advance. The hearse traveled slowly through a local village as supporters tossed flowers onto the vehicle, according to Page Six, as cited in those reports. The driver rolled down the back window to reveal a photograph of Tyler and her coffin draped in a Welsh flag. Fans also placed floral tributes outside the singer's home.
'She was always coming home and making sure that she came back to her fans in Wales,' one fan told the Associated Press, as reported by al.com, M Live Michigan, Mechanicsburg Patriot News, and Staten Island Advance. 'Her songs really did touch a lot of people here in Wales; we loved her a lot.'
A life rooted in Wales
Tyler, whose birth name was reported as both Gaynor Sullivan and Gaynor Hopkins across different accounts, was born in Wales and maintained deep ties to the region throughout her life. The Guardian reported that she split her time between Mumbles, in a house overlooking Swansea Bay, and the Algarve, and that she grew up as one of six children in a musical family in a council house in Skewen, a village north-east of Swansea. A 'painfully shy' teenager, she started gaining confidence at 17 after singing and coming second in a local rugby club talent competition.
Her connection to the community was evident in the personal stories shared by those who attended the service. Allyson Thomas, 58, whose partner played in a band with Tyler's brother, recalled parties at the Mumbles house. 'As we got in the taxi home, Bonnie handed us some champagne for the journey home. She was really special, she was so down to earth and a star at the same time,' Thomas told The Guardian.
Sandra Bartlett, 63, from Port Talbot, knew Tyler's husband Robert Sullivan during his days as a Swansea nightclub manager and visited the couple's first house in Portugal, The Guardian reported. The Cash family described meeting Tyler in Swansea's shopping centre and Debenhams. Talent scout Roger Bell, who discovered the singer, also paid tribute during the service.
Mourners began arriving from 7.30am for the noon service, bringing camping chairs and supplies, with some having travelled from as far away as Germany and Austria. One onlooker in Skewen said: 'I wouldn't come out for the king. Half the people here wouldn't,' as quoted by The Guardian.
Career and final years
Tyler achieved international fame in 1983 when 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' topped charts in the UK and US, according to The Guardian. Recognisable for her husky voice, her other hits include 'Holding Out for a Hero,' 'It's a Heartache,' and 'If You Were a Woman (and I Was a Man).' She was a three-time Grammy nominee and represented the UK in the 2013 Eurovision song contest. She was still touring internationally, releasing records, and active in charity work before she died, The Guardian reported.
Tyler passed away at a hospital in Portugal while receiving treatment for an illness, according to al.com, M Live Michigan, Mechanicsburg Patriot News, and Staten Island Advance. An official cause of death has not been released. The singer had been battling health issues since April, when she underwent emergency intestinal surgery in Faro, Portugal, and was later placed in a medically induced coma to assist her recovery, those outlets reported, citing Page Six. Her spokesperson described her passing as a 'tragedy' and requested privacy following the death.
In March, just weeks before her hospitalization, Tyler spoke to Hello! Magazine about her health and passion for performing. 'I'm fit enough at the moment, touch wood, and I'm really enjoying doing the shows,' she said, as reported by al.com, M Live Michigan, Mechanicsburg Patriot News, and Staten Island Advance. 'I'm still rocking on that stage with my wonderful band, and if you've got your health, you've got everything.' She had been scheduled to begin a European tour in Malta in May before her health declined.
A lasting legacy
Tyler was survived by her husband of 53 years, Robert Sullivan, The Guardian reported. In a 2013 interview with the Guardian, Tyler reflected on her roots: 'I class myself as a working-class girl, and I've never stopped working.'
Ki Wodehouse, 26, from Clydach, told The Guardian: 'Bonnie was an amazing ambassador for Wales.' The sentiment was echoed by the crowds who lined the streets, many of whom had personal connections to the singer. As one fan put it, she 'never forgot where she came from.'