Reg Presley: Funeral Held For Troggs Frontman

More than 200 family and friends have attended the funeral of Reg Presley, the frontman of British 1960s band The Troggs.

Presley died from cancer in his home town of Andover, Hampshire, on February 4. He was 71.

The service at Basingstoke Crematorium featured The Troggs' most famous song, Wild Thing, as well as their other big hit Love Is All Around, which was covered decades later by Wet Wet Wet.

Fields of Gold by Sting opened the service, which was attended among others by Slade vocalist Noddy Holder and Bruce Welch from The Shadows.

Presley announced his retirement from music a year ago after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

Civil celebrant Lesley Nash, leading the service, described Presley's life from his early days as a bricklayer through his decades as a rock star to his peaceful home life with his wife of more than 50 years, Brenda, and their two children, Karen and Jason.

Mrs Nash described Presley as an "unlikely rock star".

"Reg was very normal and down-to-earth, that's why so many people loved him."

She said Presley's son, Jason, described his father as "the most un-famous famous person there has ever been".

Wild Thing was not written by Presley and was itself a cover version of the number penned by Chip Taylor, who also attended the funeral. It reached No 1 in the US and No 2 in the UK.

Presley, whose real name was Reginald Ball, also developed an interest in UFOs and crop circles, writing a book on the subject.

The family asked for donations to be made to The Stroke Association and The Countess of Brecknock Hospice Trust.