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Daily Record
Daily Record
World
Dave Higgens

Funeral of transgender lotto winner Melissa Ede filled with colourful mourners

Mourners have turned out in bright colours for the funeral of transgender lottery millionaire Melissa Ede.

The 58-year-old's coffin was brought into the Chanterlands Crematorium, in Hull, in a rainbow coloured hearse, pulled by two white horses and carried into the sevice through an arch of balloons.

Civil celebrant Alastair Devine, who led the procession in his multi-coloured suit, told the congregation the flamboyant former taxi driver and transgender LGBT campaigner would have loved the colourful occasion.

Introducing what he called "a very unconventional funeral service", Mr Devine said: "She would have loved today, the carriage, the horses, the colour, the fun.

"Most importantly, that the focus is all on Mel."

Melissa Ede carried by a rainbow coloured hearse (Daily Mirror)

Welcoming the media into the funeral , he said Melissa would have "wanted a funeral that had as much coverage as the royal wedding."

Mr Devine said: "She was certainly unique. She would have loved it today that her friends from the press and media are all here."

He said: "This service is like no other that I've ever conducted."

And he advised before the tributes began: "Any of you are of a sensitive or delicate nature, be warned."

Mr Devine said: "A fantastic person has been lost to us."

Melissa died from a heart attack earlier this month, according to her fiancee Rachel Nason, who led the mourners, many dressed in coloured clothing.

The former Hull taxi driver was already known for her off-the-wall online videos and appearances on daytime TV shows when she scooped £4 million on a scratchcard 18 months ago.

The funeral of Melissa Ede, who died from a heart attack on May 11 (PA)

Her £4 million giant cheque and a replica of the winning scratchcard were displayed in chapel, next to her coffin.

Ms Nason has explained how Ms Ede had gone to hospital on May 5, but came back to her Hull home five hours later "with the all clear".

She described how, a week later, she heard her car engine revving and went out to find her slumped at the wheel.

Ms Nason said that a post-mortem examination had revealed Ms Ede had ischaemic heart disease, which led to a sudden heart attack on May 11.

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