Jethro funeral Truro comedy friends pay tribute

Jim Davidson at the funeral of comedian Jethro at Truro Cathedral. Picture SWNS

The funnyman, whose real name was Geoffrey Rowe, was known as a 'gag master' and was hailed as one of Britain's greatest entertainers by the former Generation Game host at Truro Cathedral.

FILE PICTURE - West country comedian Geoffrey Rowe known as Jethro in 1995 when he got a parking ticket in Ilfracombe. The funny man died from Covid 19 age 73

The moving speech was part of a huge outpouring of tributes that have flooded in since Jethro died from Covid last month at the age of 73 after a 40-year showbiz career.

And the streets of Truro, Cornwall, were lined today with hundreds of well wishers wanting to pay their respects as he embarked on his final journey.

The funeral of comedian Jethro at Truro Cathedral. Picture SWNS

The proceedings started from Jethro’s Club in Lewdown at 10am today before a procession that began at the city's war memorial continued to Truro Cathedral for the 12noon service.

Among the familiar faces attending were Mr Davidson who set him on the road to stardom nearly 40 years ago.

The funeral of comedian Jethro at Truro Cathedral. Picture SWNS

Closing his tribute during the service, Mr Davidson said: "He was a great comic and he never changed. We are all here in church to celebrate his life and the hope that we all meet again somewhere. It is just hope that we need to meet Jethro again.

The funeral of comedian Jethro at Truro Cathedral. Picture SWNS

"I look at it this way Jethro my old boy. What a caterpillar calls death, a wise man calls a butterfly. So you go fly Jeth. Thank you."

He earlier added: "I've known Jeth for 40 years and I met him down in the Westcountry when he was doing warm ups for a show. He had his own little bit in the show about pirates. I think it was called Treasure Hunt or something like that. I could see he was just brilliant. I thought I hope I've never got to follow him.

The funeral of comedian Jethro at Truro Cathedral. Picture SWNS

"I introduced him to Des O'Connor all those years ago and we became great friends and colleagues since then.

"Just because I introduced him, it was nothing to do with me how Jethro became one of the great entertainers of this country, because if I hadn't someone else would have. He was that good.

"I was never truly convinced he was that at home on stage. He knew it was his job and there was no one better than him but I've seen the nervousness. How he managed to get on stage and conquer his fear makes him more the greater in my heart."

The funeral of comedian Jethro at Truro Cathedral. Picture SWNS

Mr Davidson also had the crowd laughing with jokes about the difference between Jethro and a coconut - "you can get a drink out of a coconut" and a story of when he spotted a stranger building a porch who was struggling to saw the wood.

He added: "He had taken over the job bossing him about and telling him what to do. Four hours he was there. The wife brought the husband out cup of tea as Jethro was leaving and said 'who is that bloke?' He said 'I have no idea at all.'

"Later that night, that people in that house, who built that house, came to see me in Worthing. In the first half out walked Jethro and the bloke said "that's him."

"The people building the porch came to see me in Worthing that evening and when Jethro came on stage the bloke said 'that's him.'"

Large crowds had also gathered outside to hear the speeches and loudspeakers were set up for those unable to fit inside the historic building

Speaking shortly before the service, canon chancellor for Truro Cathedral Rev Alan Bashforth said: "Funerals are about celebrating a person's life and giving thanks for that life. Some of his friends will be speaking and telling stories about him.

"As well as a tear or two I expect quite a lot of laughter in this place that will reflect the kind of life he had.

"At the same time we will come together in common human solidarity to stand with a grieving family and we will remember them in our prayers.

"We pray Jethro has found rest and peace in god's presence,"

After the ceremony the family will stage a small private burial and there will be no formal wake due to the pandemic.

Jethro, was born in St Buryan, and his popularity as a comedian grew during the 1980s.

He only stopped touring in 2020 after a 50 year career as one of Cornwall's biggest stars.

He made his first national appearance on the Des O'Connor show in 1990, which gave him a national profile and led to other TV appearances and stage shows across the UK.

His family have have asked for donations in his memory to be made to Children’s Hospice South West.