Sir Edward Heath laid to rest
Baroness Thatcher led the mourners gathered at Salisbury Cathedral this afternoon for the funeral of former prime minister Sir Edward Heath.
Fellow former prime minister Sir John Major and current Conservative leader Michael Howard were also in attendance to pay their resepcts to the man who led the country from 1970 to 1974.
Foreign secretary Jack Straw and Commons leader Geoff Hoon were present on behalf of the government.
Prime minister Tony Blair was unable to attend because of a pre-arranged lunch with the French prime minister, but Downing Street said that he would be attending the memorial service.
During the service, the Right Reverend David Stancliffe, Bishop of Salisbury, said that Sir Edward was “shy” and “did not have much time for smooth words and social pleasantries”.
“Ted built bridges between countries and nations, between artists and ordinary people, between east and west, between young and old.”
Rev Stancliffe also paid tribute to Sir Edward’s involvement in the European project, saying that his commitment to unity “ran like a golden thread through his life”.
Sir Edward lived in the grounds of Salisbury Cathedral and his coffin was transported from his home, Arundells, to the cathedral on a wooden carriage.
The coffin, draped in the Union Jack and festooned with white lilies, entered the cathedral to the sound of the Last Post.
Sir Edward died just over a week ago at the age of 89.
