HUNDREDS of people attended the funeral of Bond star Desmond Llewelyn yesterday - but there was no sign of any of the legendary 007s themselves.

Pierce Brosnan, Sean Connery and Roger Moore were among the notable absentees at Mr Llewelyn's funeral service at St Mary's Church, Battle.

Among the hundreds who did attend were Samantha Bond, Miss Moneypenny in the latest blockbuster, The World Is Not Enough, co-star Colin Salmon and producer Barbara Broccoli, daughter of the late Bond director Cubby Broccoli.

Friends and family of Bexhill resident Mr Llewelyn, who played gadget man Q in 17 Bond films, filled St Mary's Church where the 85-year-old actor had regularly attended services up to his death on December 19 in a road accident.

The Right Reverend John Coote Duggan, former Bishop of Tuam, attended the service from his parish in Ireland, where Mr Llewelyn had owned a second home.

In his address to the congregation, he said: "We have come here today to thank God for the life and the existence of our dear friend Desmond and we have come to express our sympathy for all those who mourn the loss of a husband, a father, a grandfather and a friend.

"Later in the year there will be a memorial service in London and that will be the occasion for people from films and television to express their sorrow also.

"Today is more of a family occasion when we would want to remember Desmond as a father, grandfather and husband."

Rev Duggan told how he had known Mr Llewelyn for 30 years, first meeting him in Ireland where the actor attended his services.

He said: "I first met him 30 years ago in Newport. I always remember it because it was the day I nearly fainted in the pulpit and it was Desmond who took the trouble to drive me home that day.

"He was a man who loved his home, his family and his garden. Whenever I went to see him, he was always digging in the garden or papering the wall.

"He was also a very good host. He was a very dear friend."

The hour-long service included hymns and readings of Remember by Christina Rossetti and Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan, which were given by Mr Llewelyn's two sons, Justin and Ivor.

His coffin, adorned with white lilies, was taken for a private cremation service attended only by his close family.

Mr Llewelyn was killed in a head-on car crash on the A27 near Firle last month while on his way to meet his biographer, Sandy Hernu, and sign copies of his book at a shop in Alfriston.

He was taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital but died of severe internal injuries.

Yesterday's service was arranged with the help of Bond production company, Eon.

A star-studded memorial service, including all five Bond actors, Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan, is expected to take place in March.

Mr Llewelyn's wife, Pamela, who lives in a rest home, was unable to attend her husband's funeral.

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