MOURNERS lined the streets of Strangford yesterday to pay their final respects to former UTV presenter Brian Black.
The tight-knit Co Down community came to a standstill as the popular broadcaster's coffin was brought through the village.
Mr Black (77), a father-of-two, died after his car entered the water at Strangford Harbour last Tuesday.
The grandfather, a familiar face on UTV from the current affairs programme Counterpoint and then as an environment correspondent, was in his car when it rolled backwards off the quay.
Passers-by rushed to his aid and used a hammer to smash a window of the vehicle, which was lying upside down, to free Mr Black.
He was taken to Royal Victoria Hospital but died a short time after.
His funeral yesterday was strictly private, but crowds of mourners gathered in Strangford, near where he lived, to pay their respects.
Mourners stood along the main route through the village as Mr Black's wicker coffin made its way to Roselawn Crematorium.
Television colleagues, including former UTV presenter Jeanie Johnston, joined local people as applause rang out as Mr Black's remains passed by.
Tributes have poured in for the popular broadcaster, who later also worked as a television producer.
His son Kieron last week told The Irish News that his father's "greatest love in life had been seeing his grand-daughter and his family".
"Certainly the attention it has received in the media gives an indication of how well he was known outside of his circle of friends and family," he said.
"He was always a quirky fella, larger than life. He was a journalist to the end."
He said his father was at the quay as he was preparing to board his boat to sail to Scotland to visit his daughter, Sarah, who lives in Argyle.
An eyewitness reported that he had just got out of his vehicle, which then began to move.
It is believed Mr Black got back into the car to try and stop it but it rolled off the quay.
His daughter Sarah said they had been "overwhelmed" by the stories they heard of the efforts to save their father, adding she wanted to say "thank you" to all.
Mr Black's family requested that in lieu of flowers, donations could be made if desired to the Conservation of Arctic Fauna and Flora or the RNLI.
