Watch: New Orleans jazz band gives Sheffield dad 'Live and Let Die' send-off of his dreams at funeral
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A Sheffield dad was given the send-off of his dreams when a New Orleans jazz band added some swing as he made his last ever journey.
Ever since he saw the famous opening to 'Live and Let Die' in 2006, William 'Bill' Bidwell, 79, wanted his funeral to have a bit more life to it.
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Hide AdHe would have been made up to know, then, that his last procession on February 15 was as lively as the James Bond flick.
Videos show how Bill was played out by jazz band 'Fallen Heroes,' who joined his family on the way to Grenoside Crematorium and made his send-off a day to remember.
Daughter Shirley Harper said: "Dad watched Live and Let Die in 2006 and said 'I want to be sent out like that.' He would say, 'I'm really looking forward to it.'
"I said I would make it happen, even if I had to fly them out from New Orleans. He would have been so happy."
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Hide AdThe exciting 1973 film opens with a traditional 'jazz funeral' in New Orleans. Bill wanted the same two tunes - 'Just A Closer Walk With Thee' and 'New Second Line' - to play at his service.
Shirley said: "I contacted Michael Fogg Family Funeral Directors and said he wants this jazz band at his funeral. They said 'yep, we can do that.' The next day they phoned back to say they had found a band. I wanted to cry."
The heartwarming procession was filmed by the funeral directors as Bill was led along Skew Hill to Grenoside Crematorium, with 'Fallen Heroes' playing as they walked.
Shirely said: "The second song is a lot more upbeat, and when we got outside the crematorium's cafe other people were looking out the windows and filming and dancing.
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Hide Ad"It was just amazing. You shouldn't be smiling at a funeral but I was just so chuffed. When I see dad again I hope he will say it was a good job."
William Bidwell was born in Londonderry and moved to Sheffield when he was a child. he joined the RAF and found a love for traveling with postings in the Maldives and Scotland. Shirley described him as a "culturered man" who loved many different kinds of music who always came back from his travels with unique keepsakes.
Shirley said: "He was a very funny man with a bubbly personality. He would talk to anyone - he would talk to his own shadow. He was a good friend as well as a dad. I'm going to miss him a lot."
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