Celebrities gathered for the funeral of Ian Sandy, the ‘gentle giant’ of Birmingham’s showbusiness scene.

In a simple service taken by civil funeral celebrant Lynne Watson, she said Ian was a man who could be befriend anyone within half an hour of meeting them.

Mr Sandy, who died aged 48 on December 23 after a short illness, was the company manager of the annual Birmingham Hippodrome pantomime for 22 years.

He was also an actor, producer, entrepreneur, public speaker and a tireless champion of talented youngsters.

“Ian died far too young,” said Ms Watson at Solihull’s Robin Hood Crematorium. But his life meant so much to so many. He was an enormous character. He was who he was because of the theatre and not in spite of it.”

Given his role backstage at pantomimes, she said: “It was a miracle that Ian remained as normal as he was – he used to give his garden over to people who didn’t have one.

“So many people take more than they are prepared to give, but Ian was a giver. Once he liked you, you were always his friend and after half an hour you could be pals. He was, quite simply, the best.”

Music at the funeral included Frank Sinatra’s My Way and Shirley Bassey’s I Am What I Am.

Mourners were led by Mr Sadny’s business partner, Dan Chen, who plans to continue his BSS Showbiz school at the Birmingham Hippodrome. As well as friends including Brian Foster, with whom Mr Sandy founded his first stage school, BSS Spotlight, more than a decade ago, other mourners included BBC WM presenter Ed Doolan, Don Maclean, Dave Ismay and former New Faces’ star Gary Wilmot.

“I wouldn’t have missed this,” he said. “I owe Ian a lot, I’d known him for 20 years.

Also present was former Birmingham Hippodrome director Peter Tod.

“Ian was always supportive and knew how to solve crises,” he said. “Nothing was too much trouble for him.”

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