Dog treats and flowers have been laid in tribute to Paul O’Grady outside the gates to his farm in a quiet Kent village following his death. The presenter died 'unexpectedly but peacefully' on Tuesday night, his partner Andre Portasio said.
Residents of the country road in Adlington spoke of the 'real loss' they felt at the 67-year-old TV personality’s unexpected death as celebrities also paid heartfelt tributes to him.
More than a dozen members of the public arrived to lay bouquets of flowers, and even a large bag of Pointer bone-shaped treats, on Wednesday morning (March 29) before the tributes were taken inside.
READ MORE Paul O'Grady was 'laughing and so full of life' hours before sudden death, devastated friend says
The comedian and TV presenter, who rose to fame on the nightclub circuit as the acerbic, platinum wig-wearing Lily Savage, was originally from Birkenhead in Merseyside, but adopted Kent as his home more than 20 years ago. He kept animals including dogs, three goats, six sheep, six pigs, chickens and barn owls.
One message, referring to his hit show Paul O’Grady: For The Love of Dogs, read: “Farewell Paul… and thanks for all the #PogDogs.”
Flavia Corfini, 58, drove almost an hour from King’s Hill, near West Malling, to lay flowers. She said: “I felt very sad, and I was off today so I thought I’d come for a little drive out. For me it felt like the right thing to do.”
Ms Corfini, who runs a cat rescue community group, said she felt her and O’Grady were 'kindred spirits' as a fellow animal lover.
Neighbour Fred Jaeger, who had known O’Grady since he moved to the area around 20 years ago, said: “He was a wonderful man, we were very fond of him. He was very entertaining and we shall miss him greatly.”
In a six-part ITV series called Paul O’Grady’s Great British Escape, he described why he loved living in the 'Garden of England'. Speaking about the series to ITV, he said: “It’s such a beautiful county and I think it’s getting overlooked.
“Kent’s image as the Garden of England – it still is, and I’ve lived here over 20 years now and I absolutely love the place.”
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