Bonnie Tyler: Family, friends and fans to gather for Welsh singer’s funeral

EntertainmentMusic
17 Aug 2026 • 3:14 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Bonnie Tyler: Family, friends and fans to gather for Welsh singer’s funeral

Family, friends and fans of the late Bonnie Tyler will gather on Monday for the “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” star’s funeral.

Tyler, whose real name was Gaynor Hopkins, passed away in July aged 75.

On Saturday, the streets of Mumbles in Swansea, where Tyler lived, were packed with mourners for the procession of her coffin to her home.

Those who knew and loved Tyler will gather again for a celebration of her life at Swansea Minster at midday on Monday.

Only family, friends and invited guests will be allowed to enter the church, however fans wishing to pay their respects can watch the service on a screen in St David’s Square.

The hour-long funeral will also be streamed online.

Tyler will then be taken on a final journey through her hometown of Skewen, near Neath, at around 1.20pm, before a private family committal and farewell service.

The funeral procession will travel along Fabian Way to Ashleigh Terrace, through the village of Jersey Marine, Pen Y Heol, Burrows Road, Hen Hoel, New Road, Sidling Terrace, Park Avenue and Peniel Green Road, according to Swansea Council.

Tyler passed away just months after she was placed in an induced coma in intensive care following emergency intestinal surgery in Portugal.

The singer achieved international fame in the 1980s when “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” shot to the top of the charts in the UK and the US.

It came from the album Faster Than The Speed Of Night, which was her only UK number one record.

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)”.

On Saturday, fans travelled from across the world to pay their respects to the singer as her coffin, draped in a Welsh flag, was returned to the Mumbles (AFP/Getty)

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

On Saturday, fans travelled from across the world to pay their respects to the singer as her coffin, draped in a Welsh flag, was returned to the Mumbles.

The emotional crowd burst into a rendition of “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” as the hearse passed by.

Many of those attending knew Tyler as a local, describing her as a “normal person who happened to be famous”.

Jan Roach 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.”

Chicago actress Catherine Zeta-Jones was among the stars who paid tribute to Tyler following her death, as well as singers Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Rod Stewart and Bryan Adams.

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