A drag queen who inspired a hit TV show was given a send-off as flamboyant as his life. There was a sea of pink at The Downs Crematorium in Brighton today as mourners gathered to celebrate the life of Phil “Pinky” Lewis who died in his sleep on August 23 . Pinky, 65, was one of the main inspirations behind Russell T Davies's TV drama It's A Sin about a group of young gay men living in London during the Aids crisis in the Eighties.
The pair met at West Glamorgan Youth Theatre Company in the 1970s. There was a sea of pink at The Downs Crematorium in Brighton to celebrate the life of Phil 'Pinky' Lewis (Image: Eddie Mitchell) Phil moved to Brighton and Hove to work as an entertainments manager at Butlin's Ocean Hotel in Saltdean aged 21 and went on to perform his drag act across Sussex. His funeral cortege was led through Brighton and Hove by HJ Newington Funeral Directors, who said they were honoured to care for Pinky and carry out his husband’s wishes.
They drove his pink glitter coffin through the streets of Brighton and Hove until they reached the crematorium where they were greeted by mourners, many wearing bright pink clothes. His cortege was led through Brighton and Hove by, H.J.
Newington Funeral Directors (Image: Eddie Mitchell) Pinky leaves his devoted husband Colin, with whom he shared a relationship that spanned almost 40 years. In a letter dedicated to Pinky, which was read out at the funeral, Colin said:” I can’t believe you’ve left me without a kiss, o.