Introduction:
In the quiet market town of Thame, Oxfordshire, a deeply moving scene unfolded as family, friends, and admirers gathered to say goodbye to Robin Gibb, one of the beloved voices behind the Bee Gees. On this somber day, the funeral procession began at his home, where he had spent over 30 years with his wife Dwina, and made its way slowly to St Mary’s Church—a place just steps away from the life he had built.
Leading the cortege was Robin’s mother, Barbara, now in her 90s. It was a heartbreakingly familiar path for her, as she mourned the third of her four sons. Walking beside her was Barry Gibb, now the last surviving member of the Bee Gees, supporting his family and the legacy they collectively built. As the hearse made its way through the town, hundreds of local residents lined the High Street in quiet tribute, many wiping away tears as the cortege passed.
Robin’s coffin was carried on a horse-drawn carriage, led by a lone piper, accompanied by a guard of honor from the 594 T Squadron Air Cadets—an organization close to Robin’s heart. His unwavering support for the Armed Forces, particularly the Royal Air Force, was a defining part of his life. He championed the Bomber Command Memorial, which would be unveiled just weeks after his passing—something he deeply wished to witness.
Adding a personal and touching note, his two cherished Irish Wolfhounds, Ollie and Missy, followed the procession, a symbol of the quiet companionship he valued in his later years.
As the bells of the 13th-century St Mary’s Church rang out, the service began with perhaps the most iconic Bee Gees song, How Deep Is Your Love. Robin’s coffin was carried into the church by Barry Gibb and two of his sons, surrounded by the rest of his family, including his three adult children. Each would go on to deliver emotional tributes to a father who left them—and the world—far too soon, at just 62 years old.
Among the most powerful moments of the service was the playing of Don’t Cry Alone, a song Robin had composed for the Titanic Requiem, written with his son RJ. Though he was too ill to attend its premiere, his voice rang clear through the chapel, delivering a message of comfort and enduring connection.
Robin was laid to rest in the peaceful country churchyard, just meters from the memorial to his younger brother Andy. Hymns like Be Thou My Vision, Jerusalem, and I Vow to Thee, My Country echoed through the stone walls, accompanied by Psalm 23 and the Lord’s Prayer. His wife, Dwina, read a deeply personal poem titled My Songbird Has Flown, encapsulating a love story that ended too soon.
Robin Gibb may have left this world, but his voice, his music, and his devotion to family and country live on—a legacy that continues to inspire, even in silence.