Minghella remembered in thanksgiving service

Hundreds of family members, friends and colleagues from the movie industry today attended a thanksgiving service for Oscar winning director Anthony Minghella, who died last month.

The 54-year-old died on March 18 after suffering a fatal haemorrhage at Charing Cross Hospital in west London after undergoing an operation on a growth in his neck.

Among the mourners at today’s ceremony were the actors Jude Law and Alan Rickman.

The service was organised by his family and the Isle of Wight Council.

Minghella was born and brought up in Ryde where his parents Edward and Gloria Minghella still live and run an ice cream business.

The director of 'The English Patient', 'Cold Mountain' and 'Truly, Madly, Deeply' was made the first and now Freeman of the Isle of Wight in 1997.

Also in attendance was television gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh who was recently made the High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight and was attending as part of his ceremonial duties.