Graham Taylor funeral: Service broadcast live on radiopublished at 14:19 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
BBC Three Counties Radio
We're currently on air broadcasting live from the funeral service of Graham Taylor in Watford.
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Updates from Friday 3 February 2017
Graham Taylor funeral: Service broadcast live on radiopublished at 14:19 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
Graham Taylor funeral: 13-year-old Graham 'knew he would marry Rita'published at 14:09 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
Alex Pope
BBC Local LiveRev John Samways said Graham Taylor was a "devoted" family man and recounted that at the age of 13 Graham met Rita (below), his wife, while he was playing Lord Grizzle in school play Tom Thumb the Great.
Rev Samways said she was the make-up artist, and Graham turned to his friend and said "I'm gonna marry that girl".
Six years later, when he was still a teenager, he did just that and asked Rita's father for her hand in marriage.
They remained married until his death on 12 January.
Image source, ReutersGraham Taylor funeral: An 'utterly kind' manpublished at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
Katy Lewis
BBC Local LiveThe Rev John Samways, a family friend and Watford supporter of 64 years, has addressed the congregation.
He said Graham Taylor was "a man, a friend who was utterly faithful and utterly kind" and that whenever you met him you met the same man, because he "never changed his values".
Rev Samways read out an email he had been sent from a fan, who said they remembered at the age of 10 how Taylor had openly criticised fans for not being loud enough, then at the next game walked out on the pitch ahead of everyone else and held a placard above his head, which said "I'm sorry".
He said the move was "met with a standing ovation". It was a "lesson for me in life", the emailer said.
Image caption, Back page of the Order of Service
Rev Samways went on to say Taylor lived with "humour and humility", and "passion and purpose".
"He was open and honest with everyone, and most importantly he was open and honest with himself," he said.
"He was consistently kind, consistently faithful and consistently bad at DIY."
Graham Taylor funeral: Applause for Watford legendpublished at 13:57 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
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End of twitter postGraham Taylor funeral: Silence falls over Watfordpublished at 13:52 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
Douglas Marshall
BBC JournalistIt's raining here in Watford, but the crowds are quiet outside as they raptly listen to Graham Taylor's life being played out at his funeral service.
Graham Taylor funeral: Crowds sing hymnspublished at 13:45 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
Douglas Marshall
BBC JournalistMembers of the public are joining in the singing of hymns outside Graham Taylor's funeral.
There are hundreds of people lining the streets.
Graham Taylor funeral: Sir Elton - 'We were Batman and Robin'published at 13:44 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
Katy Lewis
BBC Local LiveJohn Motson read out a tribute from former Watford chairman Sir Elton John, who described Graham Taylor as being "like a brother" and a man he "befriended and loved from the moment I first met him".
Image source, PASir Elton said as chairman and manager they were an "unlikely twosome" from the outside, but were very similar - "fiercely ambitious", "passionate", "committed" to the football club and an "unstoppable force of nature".
"As chairman and manager we were Batman and Robin," he said.
Sir Elton said he floundered when Taylor went to Aston Villa as "he'd done the work of a thousand men at Watford", but their friendship was "cast in stone".
"He was a legend in this community, in football and in life," he said.
John Motson added words of his own at the end and got a cheer from the crowd outside after mentioning Watford's win at Arsenal last night.
Graham Taylor funeral: 'Thank you for the giggles'published at 13:38 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
Alex Pope
BBC Local LiveIt's now the turn of Graham Taylor's grandchildren to pay their respects.
Rhianna described her grandfather as being "quite a wind-up" and they were "always happy, smiling and that we can keep with us forever".
Elsie said "thank you for the giggles", while Jake said he was a "major influence in all of our lives, and you will never know how much we will miss you".
Image source, SBNAAttempted carjacking in Staffordshire villagepublished at 13:34 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
Allen Cook
BBC Local LiveA woman's been left "extremely shaken" after police say a man tried to carjack her vehicle in a Staffordshire village. , external
Staffordshire Police say she was driving her white Kia Sportage on the A462 towards Burnsnips Road in Essington when she got to traffic lights at the junction of Warstone Road and Broad Lane.
Image source, GoogleThey say she saw a man on the grass verge who then ran to the driver's side of the vehicle and tried to open her locked door.
Officers say he then tried to reach through the half-open window to get to the door lever when a person in the vehicle behind shouted at him, making him run off.
Graham Taylor's hearse passes Vicarage Road Stadiumpublished at 13:33 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
As the funeral service continues, this was the scene earlier as Graham Taylor's hearse passed his beloved Vicarage Road before heading to St Mary's Church in Watford.
Image source, South Beds News Agency
Image source, South Beds News AgencyGraham Taylor funeral: Daughter Joanne talks of 'comfort' from tributespublished at 13:26 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
Katy Lewis
BBC Local LiveGraham Taylor's daughter Joanne spoke next and revealed the "outpouring of tributes from people from all walks of life" after his death were "not only richly deserved but truly humbling and comforting for us as a family".
She said for him it was "family first, except on match days", but "for us it was dad first, Graham Taylor second".
She then brought laughs from the guests as she recounted how she once gave away one of his best coats to a charity shop.
Graham Taylor funeral: Flowers in Watford colourspublished at 13:22
Crowds outside St Mary's Church are listening quietly to Graham Taylor's service.
His coffin was brought in by six pallbearers, with flowers reflecting the colours of Watford Football Club.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Reuters
Image source, PAGraham Taylor funeral: Reverend welcomes mourners to the servicepublished at 13:17 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
Katy Lewis
BBC Local LiveAt the start of the service, Rev Tony Rindl has welcomed mourners to St Mary's and said how good it was to see a church full of Graham Taylor's friends, family and former colleagues.
He said it was fitting that the service was in Watford, a town "so grateful for all he achieved".
He also thanked God for all Graham gave us and how our "lives are richer for having known him".
Rev Rindl also recognised the "profound sense of loss" and hoped everyone would "find comfort in the words of the service".
The congregation then stood to sing Lead Us Heavenly Father Lead Us - a hymn sung at Graham's wedding to wife, Rita.
Image source, PAGraham Taylor funeral: Hundreds of people pay their respectspublished at 13:11 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
Douglas Marshall
BBC JournalistHundreds of people are watching the service live from big screens set up in Watford town centre.
Graham Taylor funeral: Service under waypublished at 13:06 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
Katy Lewis
BBC Local LiveGraham Taylor's funeral service is under way at St Mary's Church in Watford.
There are 400 mourners inside.
Image source, PA
Taylor's coffin was carried into the church to Elgar's Nimrod from Enigma Variations, and guests will be welcomed by the Rev Tony Rindl.
During the service tributes will come from Graham's daughter Joanne and grandchildren Rhianna, Elsie and Jake, while a tribute from Sir Elton John will be read by BBC commentator John Motson.
The main address will be from the Rev John Samways - a Watford supporter of 64 years and friend of the Taylor family.
Hymns will include Lead Us Heavenly Father Lead Us, Abide With Me and Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer, while readings will include Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 read by John Ward.
Prayers will be led by Rev John Boyers and Clive Ross, the current chaplain of Watford FC.
Graham Taylor funeral: And the rain stopspublished at 13:02 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
It may seem like a cliché, but after a morning of rain in Watford, the sun has come out as Graham Taylor's coffin arrives at St Mary's Church.
Graham Taylor funeral: Hearse arrives at churchpublished at 12:59 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
Douglas Marshall
BBC JournalistCrowds in the centre of Watford fell silent as the hearse arrived at St Mary's Church.
Hundreds are here and just as it pulled up, people spontaneously applauded the cortège.
Graham Taylor's coffin is draped with the union jack.
Image source, ReutersWatch: Graham Taylor: 'An incredible person'published at 12:58 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
Steve Hermon
Journalist, BBC WMFormer Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers players pay tribute to their ex-boss Graham Taylor whose funeral is on Wednesday.
Media caption, Graham Taylor: 'An incredible person'
Graham Taylor funeral: Live outside the churchpublished at 12:48 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
BBC Three Counties RadioWe're on Facebook broadcasting live from Graham Taylor's funeral.
Watch the coverage here...
Sorry, we're having trouble displaying this content.View original content on FacebookThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Facebook content may contain adverts.Graham Taylor funeral: Captain of Watford arrivespublished at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time 1 February 2017
Watford's current captain Troy Deeney has just arrived at Graham Taylor's funeral...
He joins former manager Howard Wilkinson (right)...
Image source, AFPand Martin Keown...
Image source, Reuters