LONDON, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Streets, civic buildings and public statues were decorated with tickling sticks Wednesday as Liverpool said a final farewell to one of Britain's greatest ever comedians Ken Dodd.
Through more than seven decades of performing Dodd used a feather duster, calling it a tickling stick, as one of his major props.
Thousands of people converged on Liverpool Cathedral, Britain's biggest church, for the funeral of the 90 year old iconic entertainer who died earlier this month.
Ordinary people mingled with stars of stage and screen for the service after Dodd's coffin arrived in a horse drawn hearse.
At the Liverpool waterfront tickling sticks were placed on the statue of the Liverpool pop band the Beatles. Two giant sized tickling sticks were placed at the front of Liverpool Town Hall, seat of the city government.
At Lime Street station a colorful tickling stick was attached to a life size statue of Dodd. As the funeral procession journeyed from Dodd's lifelong home in Knotty Ash, thousands lined the route, applauding and waving tickling sticks as the cortege passed.
Tickling sticks were fixed to a police motor cycling escorting the procession, and dozens of tickling sticks lined the cathedral's interior.
In tributes from fellow comedians Dodd was hailed as one of the top 3 entertainers in British history, with one using Dodd's hallmark way of saying farewell, using the words Tatty Bye.
