Belfast Funeral For Jimmy Ellis

The funeral has taken place of Belfast born actor Jimmy Ellis at St Mark's Church on the Holywood Road in East Belfast. The 82 year old passed away in Lincoln Hospital on 8 March after suffering a stroke leaving behind a wife Robina, two children and three grandchildren. Attending the funeral was actors Jimmy Nesbitt and Adrian Dunbar and Belfast Lord Major.

Mr. Ellis' son Toto lead tributes to his father telling mourners that his dad was a "Belfast boy, proud of his roots beyond belief".

Many across Northern Ireland will, depending on age remember Jimmy Ellis staring in different programmes, some for his role in Z cars, some for the 'Billy plays' but for us, it was his role in Only Fools and Horses.

The funeral service was unique as members of the public where invited into the service where they heard the Minister pay tribute and recognition that some mourners were attending the service as they knew Jimmy well whilst others in the service simply admired him from afar.

The actor Adrian Dunbar paid tribute to Jimmy's role in Z Cars telling mourners 'Jimmy came to represent Belfast to me and from the very start he always was Belfast to me. He was a great son of the city of Belfast and a great son of the east of Belfast.' The service also included a tribute from Ballykissangel actor Frankie McCafferty and from other actors such as Ciaran Hinds who were unable to attend.

After the service the funeral cortege drove through East Belfast and was met by applause as it paused for a few minutes outside City Hall.

Belfast pays its respects and says its final farewell as another son passes on!

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