‘Vale old man’: Barry Humphries farewelled at private funeral

The satirist was bid a final farewell at a private funeral on Friday, held at the estate of his longtime friend and artist, Tim Storrier, in the NSW Southern Highlands.

Barry Humphries was bid a final farewell at a private funeral on ­Friday. Picture: Claudio Raschella

Barry Humphries was bid a final farewell at a private funeral on ­Friday, held by his longtime friend and artist Tim Storrier at his Bowral estate in the NSW Southern Highlands.

Amid clear blue skies, Humphries was laid to rest by his family and close friends in a ceremony led by a minister at the Storrier’s historic Hopewood House.

The beloved Australian actor and comic, known for his iconic personas Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, died last Saturday in Sydney at the age of 89.

Humphries’ wife, Lizzie Spender, is scheduled to leave for London on Saturday and The Weekend Australian understands that those invited were told of the funeral only on Thursday night.  “It was a small affair, just family and close friends,” says film director Bruce Beresford, who was one of the few invited to the ceremony, alongside Humphries’ two sons, Oscar and Rupert, who flew to Sydney from London, daughters Emily and Tessa, brother Christopher and sister Barbara.

Beresford, who gave his own “little obituary” said there were no speeches made, rather, there were readings from “a book that Barry collected with his favourite poems” from which his son chose.

Among them were three verses from Humphries’ favourite poem, The Heart of a Friend by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Artist Tim Storrier and comedian Barry Humphries. Picture: Philip Bacon Galleries

“It was very touching, very warm. Everybody was either ­related or a great friend of Barry’s,” Beresford said.

In addition to his unparalleled career as a writer, actor, television performer and host, Humphries was a champion of the arts, a collector of contemporary art, and a passionate amateur painter.

During the funeral of renowned artist John Olsen in Sydney’s east on Thursday, mourners were informed that Humphries, who was Olsen’s “great friend”, was meant to read his eulogy ­before his death less than a week ago.

In 2014, Storrier paid homage to Humphries, one of his oldest friends, by painting a 3m-high ­portrait of him dressed as his alter ego, Sir Les Patterson, which went on to win the Packing Room Prize at that year’s Archibald Prize.

In response to Humphries’ death, Storrier wrote: “It seems a greater loss when a person who has made us all laugh passes on. As we all know when the jester dies, the king laments. Vale old man.”

Barry Humphries and John Olsen in Strathalbyn. Picture: Mark Brake.

According to Creative Industries Minister Steve Dimopoulos, the Victorian government is in discussion about the best way to honour the satirist’s legacy, with the family playing a vital role in the ­decision-making process for a state funeral.