A number of old showbiz colleagues and friends stepped out yesterday to pay their respects at the funeral of Derek Davis.
The broadcaster died suddenly last Wednesday and his ceremony was held yesterday at Victoria Chapel in Harold’s Cross.
His former co-host Thelma Mansfield was amongst the mourners, as was Charlie Bird, Anne Byrne, Bobby Kerr, Gay Byrne, Tom McGurk, and Derry and Sally Anne Clarke.
Both The President and Taoiseach also sent representatives to attend the memorial service.
The presenter’s son Michael gave a touching speech, and described the 67-year-old as “a fantastic father, friend, husband, broadcaster and angler.”
“He didn’t leave anything undone… I could not have asked for a better teacher and father. It was a privilege to be his son” he added.
Derek’s other son Sean also spoke, saying “what I am left with is an overwhelming sense of love, admiration and gratitude. I am stupidly grateful for everything dad did for me and my brothers; his good humour, his generosity and devotion.”
Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World” played as Derek and Una’s three boys carried their father’s coffin out of the church.
Derek’s former co-host Thelma Mansfield paid an emotional final farewell to her ‘Live at Three’ colleague during the week, saying she can’t imagine life without him.
Ms Mansfield, who shared the ‘Live at Three’ sofa with Derek from 1986 to 1997, said she was “in a daze” after seeing him for the last time and said it had been a privilege to have known her “charming, generous and sweet-hearted” friend.
