12 January 2023 , 16:26
835
0
Funerals don't have to be a sombre affair as proven by one woman who arranged a flash mob to take place during her own send off. To top it all off she had the dancers perform to Queen classic Another One Bites The Dust, showcasing her humour.
Sandie Wood died from tongue cancer at 65-years-old after being a victim of the infected blood scandal, which contributed to her death.
Tens of thousands of people were given blood that had been contaminated with hepatitis-C in 1977, one of which was Sandie.
Described by her friends as a "bit of a rebel" the former bodybuilder wanted to go out with a massive bang so hired Bristol-based dance troupe The Flaming Feathers for her funeral.
The Flaming Feathers were instructed to conga out of the funeral (Samantha Ryalls / SWNS)Discover, learn, grow. We are Curiously. Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Kamala Harris and George Floyd's brother among hundreds at Tyre Nichols funeral
The 65-year-old died on September 19, 2022, but her fun wasn't done as footage shows the dance troupe standing up among crying family members to perform. They strip off large jackets to reveal their uniforms as the music plays loudly in the background.
All this was to the shock of the grieving crowd who had no idea Sandie had planned this surprise. One man initially was "refusing to look" at the dancers but dance troupe manager and performer Claire Phipps, 36, says that the crowd were soon joining in.
Claire, from Bristol, says that the group agreed to perform at the event after a request from Sandie's friend Sam - who had been turned down by five other groups before.
Claire said: "It was definitely not your normal gig. It was very odd to first pretend to be there for the funeral, and then to see family and friends crying and upset.
Sadie's friends described her as a rebel (Samantha Ryalls / SWNS)"To then have to get up and rock out to Queen felt very weird - but it did go really well, and it's what she wanted. If you know her, she was a bit of a rebel, so it fit her personality.
"We got some very funny and mixed reactions at first, but we got the crowd going, they were all clapping to the music, and they were all really thankful and enjoyed it after.
"Her best friend Sam booked us, but this was about six months before she passed - so Sandie basically planned her own funeral.
"That was not the only surprise too; we first flash mobbed the room, but then when we left the crematorium she also requested that we did a conga to exit the building.
Some funeral guests were unsure how to act when the dancing broke out (Samantha Ryalls / SWNS)"When her coffin came in too, she was intentionally late because in life she was always late - so she wanted to be late for her funeral too.
"It was crazy - but I loved it. Overall, it was a really positive experience - but I did feel like I didn't want to offend anyone.
'My partner wants to go to a funeral I was excluded from - I'm devastated'
"I think we're changing - more people are encouraging others to be colourful at funerals rather than being so Victorian and gothic. So we would happily do it again if anyone wants to book us."
Sandie's close friend Sam Ryalls, 43, arranged all the surprises at Sandie's request for her funeral on November 4 last year.
Many got into the dancing mood and enjoyed the show as Sadie wanted (Samantha Ryalls / SWNS)Sam, from Bristol, described her friend as 'loud' but rebellious woman much loved by her friends and community.
She said: "She was very loud, and very out there. She was really the centre of everything. She was just a very big character.
"Funny enough she was actually very short, but what she lacked in height she made up for in her character and how loud she was.
"She used to work in pubs, always behind the bar. She was once a bodybuilder, but once she stopped that she was a bar maid - but behind the bar is where she loved it the most."