‘He never forgot Birkenhead’ Residents gather to remember Paul O’Grady

Fans of the late star stood outside Primark on Grange Road, Birkenhead to pay their respects and celebrate the celebrity’s life as part of a community event.

Locals and their dogs could be seen singing, dancing, and signing books of condolences while donations were collected.

Dog owners lined the streets to remember Paul O'Grady (Image: Rebecca McGrath)

The event was organised by Janine Reynolds who lived in Birkenhead until she was 13-years-old.

Speaking to the Globe at the event she said: “Birkenhead was Paul’s hometown and I’m sure he would have loved to have seen all the people who have turned out to celebrate his life today.

“The response has been overwhelming, and the turnout today has been fantastic. It couldn’t be more amazing.”

Event organiser Janine Reynolds with her dog Nole (Image: Rebecca McGrath)

Crowds could be seen singing and dancing along to songs being played out of a speaker on the street including Sweet Caroline and Who Let The Dogs Out?.

Janine added: “I think Paul would be gobsmacked if he was here. I don’t think he’d want us to be miserable even though we all feel so sad that he died.

“I think if he was here he would be joining in with us all.”

Crowds gathered to sing and dance in memory of the late star (Image: Rebecca McGrath)

As well as sing-a-longs, donations were collected for local dog shelter, Friends of Birkenhead Kennels.

Denise McCartney, a volunteer from Friends of Birkenhead Kennels, said: “Paul O’Grady was a local lad who had an affinity with dogs.

“He was such a big dog lover so we wanted to come down and pay our respects today. We thought people might like to donate in his memory to a charity that looks after the dogs that he would appreciate.”

Volunteers from Friends of Birkenhead Kennels were collecting donations (Image: Rebecca McGrath)

She added: “Everyone’s been so friendly and lovely. People have donated what they can and have also been asking about the kennels and how they can help. The turnout has been brilliant it’s great to see so many people who have brought their own dogs along as well.

“I’m a big Paul fan myself I have got all his autobiographies and watched all his programmes. I was supposed to see him in Annie but it’s one of those things. It would have been lovely to see him.”

Residents could be seen writing messages to Paul in a book of condolences (Image: Rebecca McGrath)

A private funeral service was also held at St Rumwold’s Church in the village of Bonnington in Kent for O’Grady this afternoon, conducted by Reverend Canon Roger Martin.

Mourners gathered in Adlington where the beloved comedian and TV presenter lived.

O'Grady died on March 28 at his home in the village of Aldington in Kent. On Saturday, April 15 it was confirmed that O’Grady had died from a sudden cardiac arrhythmia.