Roads and pubs were closed in Morden as crowds of spectators gathered to watch the funeral of well-known East End gangster Joey Pyle.
Celebrities, including gay-icon Elton John and 60s starlet Lulu, were rumoured to be attending the funeral at St Theresa's Church, Lower Morden Lane, today.
American soul singer Jocelyn Brown, who worked on the 1984 hit Somebody Else's Guy, sang at the graveside
Police directed traffic around St Theresa's Church, Lower Morden Lane, as stretch limousines and motorcycle groups arrived to pay tribute to Mr Pyle, a known friend of notorious underworld villains the Kray twins.
Residents living near the church lined the street to watch the funeral procession go by and pubs in the area closed their doors in the afternoon for fear of 'security problems'.
One North Cheam publican said he had closed the doors to his pub after the brewery which owns the business warned him that there could be trouble.
Following the funeral mourners travelled to Sutton and Merton Cemetery in Lower Morden Lane.
Mitch Pyle, Joey's son, said: "What can I say about the man? He was a legend. He was a respectable man and was loved by everyone. He will be very sadly missed."
Former gangster turned celebrity charity worker, David Courtney said: "You wouldn't be able to fit in a book what I'd like to say about him. He was a people's person. He took people under his wing and connected people up - 99 per cent of the people at the Krays funeral never even knew them but everyone here knew Joey."
Mr Pyle, who wrote an expose of the criminal underworld title Notorious: The Changing Face of Organised crime, had also worked as an unlicensed boxing promoter.
Recently newspaper reports had suggested Mr Pyle would be interviewed by police concerning the murder of 36-year-old Sean Jenkins in Carshalton last December, although police refused to confirm the rumours.
Mr Jenkins, a window cleaner from Southfields, was shot dead after a night out at Caesar's nightclub in Streatham where he watched a series of unlicensed boxing bouts.
Tell us your memories of Joey Pyle using our comment feature below. You can also send us your pictures, click here. To view more pictures from the funeral click here.
2:55pm Wednesday 28th February 2007
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CommentPosted by: MIKE GRAY, EPSOM on 3:47pm Wed 28 Feb 07
Joey Pyle was a very Honest and decent Man,Who has done so much Charity work for Childrens Hospices over the years, But the UK press don't want to hear or print that.
He has helped Us at The Free Ronnie Campaign so much, for which we will always be grateful,
Rest in Peace Joey.
Joey Pyle was a very Honest and decent Man,Who has done so much Charity work for Childrens Hospices over the years, But the UK press don't want to hear or print that.
He has helped Us at The Free Ronnie Campaign so much, for which we will always be grateful,
Rest in Peace Joey.
Posted by: Frank Baldessarre, waterloo on 7:50pm Thu 1 Mar 07
[bold]Quantum instar in ipso est.[/bold]
(None but himself can be his parallel).
Rest in Peace
Quantum instar in ipso est.
(None but himself can be his parallel).
Rest in Peace
Posted by: Laura, Whyteleafe on 8:52pm Thu 1 Mar 07
We will always Love you Joe. Your my Hero.
Love Terri's Daughter Laura ****
We will always Love you Joe. Your my Hero.
Love Terri's Daughter Laura ****
Posted by: Paul Woodman, Horley Surrey on 11:29am Thu 8 Mar 07
My Boxer Father Freddie Woodman from Tooting knew Joey for nearly 50 years and says he was always polite and courteous to our family.
Joey always kept his "shady" past to himself and would never involve innocent people.
He would talk about Boxing and the good old days.
He will be sadly missed.
God Bless Joey.
The Woodman Family
My Boxer Father Freddie Woodman from Tooting knew Joey for nearly 50 years and says he was always polite and courteous to our family.
Joey always kept his "shady" past to himself and would never involve innocent people.
He would talk about Boxing and the good old days.
He will be sadly missed.
God Bless Joey.
The Woodman Family
Posted by: barry dann, ewell on 7:12pm Thu 8 Mar 07
joe was a good friend ive known for 25 years always a gentalman and never from my thouths ill mis you mate .to joe your pal always barry dj.[bold]bold[/bold] [bold]bold[/bold] [italic]italic[/italic] [bold]bold[/bold] [quote]quote[/quote] [bold]bold[/bold]
joe was a good friend ive known for 25 years always a gentalman and never from my thouths ill mis you mate .to joe your pal always barry dj.
quote
Posted by: LauraB on 2:44pm Fri 9 Mar 07
Not sure why these gangsters are so "loveable". They struck terror into the heart of many who disagreed with them, and that includes "innocents". Don't make them out to be loveable rogues: they were vicious killers.
Not sure why these gangsters are so "loveable". They struck terror into the heart of many who disagreed with them, and that includes "innocents". Don't make them out to be loveable rogues: they were vicious killers.
Posted by: L Thomas on 4:11pm Fri 9 Mar 07
Gangsters are not legends, not loveable and not respectable but rather criminals who physically harm and intimidate those who thwart their criminal activities and personal agendas. Disgusted to see a London paper reporting such a person in a glamourised way - how is this different from those who would glamourise the terrorists who attacked Londoners for political reasons in recent years?
Gangsters are not legends, not loveable and not respectable but rather criminals who physically harm and intimidate those who thwart their criminal activities and personal agendas. Disgusted to see a London paper reporting such a person in a glamourised way - how is this different from those who would glamourise the terrorists who attacked Londoners for political reasons in recent years?
Posted by: Pedro Terrapin, London on 4:56pm Fri 9 Mar 07
L Thomas - I bet he loved his mum though. That excuses the violence doesn't it?
L Thomas - I bet he loved his mum though. That excuses the violence doesn't it?
Posted by: ashley coombes on 2:34pm Mon 12 Mar 07
my mum was married to joe for 6years and she loved him dearly she took care of him when he was diagnosed with MND he was a loving and caring man we will missed him lots love you joe rest in peace your step daughter ashley xx
my mum was married to joe for 6years and she loved him dearly she took care of him when he was diagnosed with MND he was a loving and caring man we will missed him lots love you joe rest in peace your step daughter ashley xx
Posted by: Sorpesci, Newcastle on 7:55pm Thu 15 Mar 07
We have lost a good man and friend who has sadly been taken away from us rest in peace joe.
We have lost a good man and friend who has sadly been taken away from us rest in peace joe.
Posted by: neil english, essex on 4:55pm Fri 20 Apr 07
i knew big joe all my life, a friend of all my family, a friend to everyone, areal mans man, nobody could say a bad word about him,he will truly missed, espically little his son... neil
i knew big joe all my life, a friend of all my family, a friend to everyone, areal mans man, nobody could say a bad word about him,he will truly missed, espically little his son... neil
Posted by: Ricky Boylan, Morden on 3:40pm Thu 7 Feb 08
Joe to this day you are still badly missed, you were one of a kind and no one can replace you pal... R I P
Joe to this day you are still badly missed, you were one of a kind and no one can replace you pal... R I P
Posted by: rboylan, morden on 3:49pm Thu 7 Feb 08
and laura b n l thomas no need for that at all ....**** u
and laura b n l thomas no need for that at all ....**** u
Posted by: terry, isle of wight on 7:09pm Fri 8 Feb 08
i new joe in 1962 when i was 17 he looked after a club in garrett lane earlsfield i will never forget the storys he told rest in peace joe
i new joe in 1962 when i was 17 he looked after a club in garrett lane earlsfield i will never forget the storys he told rest in peace joe
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