The FUNERAL of RICHARD TYRONE JONES.

It is our sad and solemn duty to invite you to the Funeral of Richard Tyrone Jones, esq.

The performance artist, Director of ‘Utter!’, ‘ringmaster of spoken word’ (Three Weeks), ‘thoughtful and ginger poet’ (Tim Key) and absent father Richard Tyrone Jones will, in February 2010, reach the age of 30. As this represents the end of all meaningful life, his funeral will take place at Whitechapel Art Gallery, 7.00pm prompt, on Thursday 18th February 2010.

While he peacefully ’sleeps’ in a bamboo coffin surrounded by flowers, the life and work of the man known as ‘RTJ’ will be commemorated by poetry, hymns and tributes from some of his closest celebrity friends and admirers including uplifting poet Paul Birtill, filmmaker Robert Sears, newspaper columnist Tom Phillips, and the mothers of his five+ sperm-donated children.

The funeral will be officiated by the Reverend James McKay, and will include the anticipated reading of Tyrone Jones’ will, a selection of his work and a message of hope to his children from beyond the grave. They will end with a wake at nearby pub the White Hart. It’s what he would have wanted.

Mourners are encouraged to send flowers rather than giving money to charity.

For more publicity photographs see facebook event: http://bit.ly/rtjdead
For interviews/features contact 07912 539 098 / www.utterspokenword.com / whitechapelgallery.org

Whitechapel Art Gallery, 80 Whitechapel High Street, London, E1 7QX
7.00pm prompt – approx 10.00pm, on Thursday 18th February 2010.
Nearest tube/overground: Aldgate East / Liverpool Street
This event is part of Whitechapel Art Gallery’s ‘lates’ series.

Order of service

Organ playing by Mr Niall Spooner-Harvey. Introduction of the coffin and limited mourning opportunity.

Introduction to the life of Richard Tyrone Jones by the Reverend James McKay.

Hymn: Jerusalem (W. Blake)

Tribute by Robert Sears, advertising executive and friend of the deceased.

Message to his biological children from Mr Richard Tyrone Jones.

Uplifting and consoling ‘carpe diem’ poetry from Mr. Paul Birtill.

INTERVAL during which will be played some of Richard’s favourite music, in acknowledgement of the impossibility of getting you to listen to it while he was alive, drinks and buffet.

Tribute by Tom Phillips of Fat Fat Pope.

Opportunity for poetic and musical tributes on Richard Tyrone Jones from heartbroken fans, including:
Mr Alain English, former housemate of the deceased, and Mr Nathan Loughran.

A reading of some of Richard Tyrone Jones’s foresighted poems on the subject of mortality, from his book ‘Germline’, priced £6.99, by Mr David Floyd.

Reading of the will.

Hymn ‘All things bright and beautiful’.

Reading from Ezekiel by the Rev. McKay.

Collection for Richard’s favoured charity, the poets’ benevolent fund, and cremation of the deceased.

Solemn wake in nearby White Hart pub.