Melissa Ede death: 'Colourful' funeral held for Hull lottery winner

30 May 2019 BBC News

Mourners have dressed in rainbow colours at the funeral of lottery winner and LGBT campaigner Melissa Ede.

The 58-year-old, who won £4m on a lottery scratch card in 2017, died from a heart attack on the night of 11 May.

Her coffin was carried in a horse-drawn carriage, adorned in the rainbow pride flag colours, to Chanterlands Avenue crematorium in Hull at about 12:30 BST.

Arrangements for the funeral included a colourful dress code to celebrate "her extraordinary life".

Image copyright PRITTI MISTRY Melissa Ede had been a taxi driver and was a transgender LGBT rights campaigner

Her partner, Rachel Nason, had described the transgender LGBT rights campaigner as "clever", "funny" and an inspiration to others.

A post-mortem examination showed the former Hull taxi driver had ischemic heart disease, which led to "a sudden heart attack", Ms Nason has said.

Ms Ede was found slumped in a car outside their home, near Hull, after going out to get cigarettes.

Before scooping the jackpot, she was known for her TV appearances and posting videos of herself online, attracting thousands of social media followers.