MORE than 1,200 fans and celebrities packed Canterbury Cathedral on Monday for the funeral of comic Dave Lee.

It was "thanks for the memories" as a line-up of showbiz legends joined in tributes from Dave's family.

Among them was comic Bobby Davro who produced three pictures of him and Dave on a TV sketch show, including one of the pair dressed as Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men.

Davro said: "I first met big Dave 30 years ago when he was compering a show. I was 22 and just starting. He was huge. I thought he'd had liposuction and the doctor had left the machine on blow!

"But he took me under his wing and we remained friends. Everything about him was big: big personality; big talent and a big heart."

For once, the normally hushed and serious 1,500-year-old cathedral rang out with laughter and applause.

Paving the way was comedy musician Richard Digance. He announced: "Wasn't it ironic that on the same day we lost Dave, 67 Little Chefs closed down?"

He praised Dave's fund-raising events for children's charity Dave Lee's Happy Holidays. He said: "Dave was king of the chessboard and we were his pawns. His first call was always to Jim Davidson because he could sell-out a show and the rest of us, like Brian Conley, Joe Pasquale, Bradley Walsh and Chas 'n' Dave would follow. Nobody ever said 'no' to Dave.

"After he went to Buckingham Palace to collect his MBE I wouldn't have been surprised to have seen the Queen driving a buggy on his next golf day handing out hot dogs."

He told the congregation: "The first time I worked with Dave we were supporting Chas 'n' 'Dave at the Hackney Empire. Let's make this a big day for Dave. When he leaves here, let it be to a big, deafening applause so he can hear us wherever he is, instead of the sound of silence we both left to at the Empire!" The audience did just that. After nearly 90 minutes of tributes, including the cathedral's choristers singing the Ghostbusters film theme song in praise of the ghost gag bench sketch – made famous by Dave in his 16 pantos for the Marlowe Theatre – everyone stood and gave the comic a standing ovation as his coffin was carried out of the nave.

The Dean of Canterbury Cathedral the Right Rev Robert Willis, who conducted the service, said: "Dave Lee was a generous human being. Although he did not live long enough to witness being granted the freedom of the city, I am sure he has become a freeman of the kingdom of Heaven."

EastEnders' John "nasty Nick Cotton" Altman gave a reading.

Altman was born in Herne Bay, went to school in Whitstable and had known Dave for 25 years.

He said: "We had three things in common; we were both born on March 2; we both played drums and we both supported Tottenham Hotspur."

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp sent a wreath from his family. Gillingham FC boss Paul Scally was also present along with TV presenter Stephen Mulhern, 60s singer Jess Conrad, ventriloquist Roger de Courcey, Joe Pasquale, who arrived with comedian Jim Davidson, singers Toyah Willcox, Gerard Kenny and Chas Hodges of Chas 'n' Dave and EastEnders actors Shane Ritchie, Shaun "Barry Evans" Williamson and Derek Martin who played Charlie Slater.

Partying continued at Broome Park golf club.

Dave Lee became the first person to be posthumously awarded the freedom of the city of Canterbury during a service at the Guildhall on Tuesday night.