Johnnie Walker’s wife says she is sure her husband ‘loved’ his funeral service

Veteran radio DJ Johnnie Walker’s wife Tiggy has said they “couldn’t have bettered a thing” about the funeral for her husband after he was laid to rest.

Tiggy was joined by Walker’s former BBC Radio 2 colleagues and Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant at St Peter’s Church in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on Friday for the service which she feels he “loved”.

A procession of motorbike riders on Harley Davidsons, which Walker was an avid rider of, escorted the DJ’s hearse after the funeral.

“We couldn’t have bettered a thing about ⁦@piratejw’s send off yesterday,” Tiggy, who donned a bright pink suit for the service, wrote on social media.

“Beautiful music, fab readings & so much laughter. He left with Born To Run blasting! I’m sure he loved it.” ⁦

Walker died in December aged 79 after previously being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a condition which causes the lungs to become scarred and makes breathing increasingly difficult, according to the NHS.

Tiggy, who cared for him during his lung disease condition and helped with producing his radio show at home, praised him for remaining his “charming, humorous self to the end” in a tribute shared on New Year’s Eve.

The Pallida Choir, based in Shaftesbury, and Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman were among those to perform at Walker’s service.

Ahead of the funeral, Wakeman said he was “very proud” to have been asked by Tiggy to play a rendition of his track Gone But Not Forgotten.

Walker’s death was announced on Radio 2 on New Year’s Eve by Bob Harris, who took over the DJ’s Sounds Of The 70s show last November.

Harris, former BBC radio star Simon Mayo, radio host Paul Gambaccini, BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley, BBC and ITV sports presenter John Inverdale and Green Wing actress Pippa Haywood were also among those in attendance at his funeral.

Following the service, Radio 2 presenters Tony Blackburn and Jeremy Vine were seen standing together and chatting alongside their former colleague Ken Bruce, who left the BBC to join Bauer’s Greatest Hits Radio in 2023.

Walker announced in early October that he was retiring from radio after 58 years after being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Shaun Keaveny took over presenting Radio 2’s Rock Show from Walker after he departed it in October.