All-star cast pay tribute at funeral of Corin Redgrave

Mourners, including his sisters Vanessa and Lynn Redgrave, gave the late actor, who died a week ago at the age of 70, a standing ovation as his hearse left the grounds of the church.

Fittingly, the star of screen and stage had just given a final performance – with a recording of his own rendition of Goodbye from the film Oh! What A Lovely War ending the service.

The actor's widow Kika Markham and his children led hundreds of mourners at a packed and emotional service at St Paul's Church, dubbed the actors' church, in Covent Garden.

Redgrave's film and TV star niece Joely Richardson and Daisy, the daughter that Nip/Tuck star Vanessa had with film producer Tim Bevan, were among them. Schindler's List lead Liam Neeson, whose wife Natasha Richardson – Redgrave's niece – died in a ski accident last year, was also present along with Lord Of The Rings star Sir Ian McKellen and actor Simon Callow.

Lynn Redgrave sparked laughter when recounting childhood with her brother, who taught her how to climb trees but never how to come back down again, meaning she was always getting stuck.

Vanessa Redgrave read from Antony And Cleopatra, saying her brother had read the passages from the Shakespeare play to her a couple of years ago and she wanted to return the gesture.

Former National Theatre director Sir Trevor Nunn spoke of his time with Redgrave at university and how they went on to work together.

The final time they collaborated, at the National Theatre, Sir Trevor realised "something extraordinary" had happened to his old university friend, and that he had become a "great" and not just a "good" actor, he said.

Sir Trevor said Redgrave should be remembered for "so many things" including his "political work, idealism and great moralism" but that he should also be remembered as a "great actor".

The son of Michael Redgrave, he was well known for his political activism, and campaigned against the Guantanamo Bay detentions.