The funeral took place yesterday in Hull for Mrs Teresa Longthorne, Joe's beloved mother. This article has been published in The Hull Daily Mail.....


HULL singing star Joe Longthorne sang to old records with his beloved mother during her final few months.

Teresa Longthorne, 89, who had been cared for at Joe's Blackpool home, died with him at her side on September 11.

Mrs Longthorne's funeral was held at St Charles Borromeo Church in Jarratt Street, Hull, yesterday.

Canon Michael Loughlin read a tribute, written by Mrs Longthorne's daughter, Ann, to the congregation of 200 mourners, many of whom were reduced to tears by her words.

Making reference to Joe's battle with leukaemia, Ann had written: "Joe, I know how ill you have been and how hard you have worked all your life since you were 12.

"You are mam's youngest and you cared so wonderfully for her and made the last months of her life very happy."

"You sang together to the old records, danced, laughed and had fun and still you managed to work."

Earlier, a horse-drawn hearse had carried the coffin from Ann's home in Adelaide Street, West Hull, to the church.Entertainer Joe smiled and chatted with friends outside the church.However, he did not speak during the service,preferring the focus to be on his mother.

In her eulogy, Ann told how their mother hailed from a family of Irish travellers.
"My mam married an English traveller, Fred Longthorne, aged 16," she said. "They got married at St Patrick's Church in Hull, had seven children. My mam worked very hard all her life. She has four children who are alive – Ann, John, Lizzie and Joe. Her voice was fantastic. She was a very good Catholic and was loved by everyone. A lady and a mam in a million."

Joe, 58, kept his engagements prior to the funeral, insisting it would have been what his mother had wanted.

He invited pupils from St Charles RC Primary School, in Norfolk Street, city centre, to sing at his mother's funeral. Year 4 teacher Simon Harris led a small group from the school's singing club in a rendition of As I Kneel Before You. Mr Harris said: "Canon Michael Loughlin contacted us on Thursday and asked us if we would like to sing at a celebration of Mrs Longthorne's life.The children were honoured. We practised that afternoon and again on Friday.The children also took the words home with them so they could rehearse over the weekend.They all sounded beautiful."

In a 2006 interview with the Mail, Mrs Longthorne spoke of Joe's musical ability.

She said: "Fred could make a piano talk and I was a singer, so he gets it from both of us."

Joe and all his family again would like to express their deepest appreciation and thanks for every message, card and all the flowers which have been conveyed to them at this time.