Remembering Dusty
The wonderful singer Dusty Springfield known for her soulful sound and icon of the Swinging Sixties died 24 years ago in Henley on 2nd March 1999 where she had made the town her home during her last years.
Dusty Springfield’s funeral service at St. Mary’s Church in Hart Street, Henley-on-Thames was attended by hundreds of fans and people from the music business, including Elvis Costello, Lulu and Pet Shop Boys.
A stone dedicated to her memory was placed in the church graveyard. In accordance with Dusty’s wishes, she was cremated and some of her ashes were buried at Henley, while the rest were scattered by her brother, Tom Springfield, at the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland.
She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame two weeks after her death. Her friend Elton John helped induct her into the Hall of Fame, declaring: “I’m biased, but I just think she was the greatest white singer there ever has been … every song she sang, she claimed as her own.”
Locals are keen to bring back ‘Dusty Day’ for an annual musical get together in celebration of the iconic British singer.
