A drag queen who inspired a hit TV show was given a send-off as flamboyant as his life.

There was a sea of pink at The Downs Crematorium in Brighton today as mourners gathered to celebrate the life of Phil “Pinky” Lewis who died in his sleep on August 23.

Pinky, 65, was one of the main inspirations behind Russell T Davies's TV drama It's A Sin about a group of young gay men living in London during the Aids crisis in the Eighties. The pair met at West Glamorgan Youth Theatre Company in the 1970s.

There was a sea of pink at The Downs Crematorium in Brighton to celebrate the life of Phil 'Pinky' Lewis (Image: Eddie Mitchell) Phil moved to Brighton and Hove to work as an entertainments manager at Butlin's Ocean Hotel in Saltdean aged 21 and went on to perform his drag act across Sussex.

His funeral cortege was led through Brighton and Hove by HJ Newington Funeral Directors, who said they were honoured to care for Pinky and carry out his husband’s wishes.

They drove his pink glitter coffin through the streets of Brighton and Hove until they reached the crematorium where they were greeted by mourners, many wearing bright pink clothes.

His cortege was led through Brighton and Hove by, H.J. Newington Funeral Directors (Image: Eddie Mitchell) Pinky leaves his devoted husband Colin, with whom he shared a relationship that spanned almost 40 years.

In a letter dedicated to Pinky, which was read out at the funeral, Colin said:” I can’t believe you’ve left me without a kiss, or a cuddle or without just a plain goodbye.

“As you can imagine, I am absolutely devastated. Life seems so empty now without you.

“We looked after and nursed each other when illness has struck. Thank God we took voluntary redundancy four years ago.

“We have travelled and had a brilliant time together enjoying each other’s company, I miss you so much.

“I wake up in the morning and look at your side of the bed, no indentation of your head on the pillow and the sheets haven’t got a crease.

“You are, like a lot of people said, one in a million. Kind, generous, handsome, lovable and above all my superstar.

“So fly high pink bird until we meet again.”

Friends and family of Phil 'Pinky' Lewis at the Downs Crematorium  (Image: Eddie Mitchell) Among the mourners were friends of Pinky’s from his time spent at West Glamorgan Youth Theatre in Wales.

West End’s Jill Nalder performed a musical tribute to her dear friend which included songs from West Side Story and Les Miserables.