Moment flash mob bursts into funeral service dancing to Queen hit

Moment flash mob bursts into funeral service dancing to Another One Bites the Dust as mourners say farewell to ex barmaid, 65, who died from cancer

• Flaming Feathers dance troupe were filmed performing at Bristol crematorium
• They had been hired by late Sandie Wood, 65, to lift people’s spirits at her funeral
• It was one of several surprises arranged by Sandie for her £10,000 send-off 

A flash mob left mourners stunned after bursting into the funeral service of a cancer victim and dancing to the Queen classic Another One Bites The Dust. 

In video footage shared online, four members from the Flaming Feathers dance troupe can be seen suddenly standing up from their seats inside the crematorium in Bristol, before whipping off their jackets and performing their routine at the front of the church. 

The dancers had disguised themselves as loved ones of former barmaid Sandie Wood, 65, who died of tongue cancer on September 19. 

Sandie, who was a victim of the NHS hepatitis C infected blood scandal, had asked the group to perform at her funeral as she did not want everyone to be sad as they said their farewells. 

She also arranged for other surprises during her £10,000 send-off, including a horse-drawn hearse and a specially crafted coffin lined with her favourite sparkly shoes that was topped with a floral white witch riding a broomstick.   

A flash mob left mourners stunned after bursting into the funeral service of a cancer victim and dancing to the Queen classic Another One Bites The Dust

The women had disguised themselves as loved ones of former barmaid Sandie Wood (pictured), 65, who died of tongue cancer on September 19. Sandie, who was a victim of the NHS hepatitis C infected blood scandal, had asked the group to perform at her funeral

Her friend Sam Ryalls, 43, who helped arrange the flash mob, said: ‘She was one of a kind, so she left the world how she lived it, being herself.

‘She wanted everyone to remember her funeral but not for a sad reason.

‘Everyone is sad and grieving because she is not here anymore but that doesn’t mean her final day had to be that way.’

Sam added that the ‘hardest thing was finding dancers to do it’ as many said they were not ‘comfortable’ with the idea. 

But Flaming Feathers director Claire Phipps, 36, agreed to do the job, admitting that after gigging for 12 years – usually performing burlesque or cabaret – they had ‘never done a funeral.’ 

She added: ‘We had to pretend to be part of the guests with people crying and grieving and then get up, whip our coats off and rock out.

‘It was really nice to do something different.’

Footage of the funeral shows how, amidst crying family members, the group stood up as music began playing loudly, before removing large jackets hiding their uniforms and dancing at the front of the audience.

While initially the crowd seemed shocked at the event, with one man ‘refusing to look’ at the performance, dance troupe manager and performer Claire says that the crowd were soon joining in.

Sandie (front left) ‘broke tradition’ by planning her funeral with hidden surprises, which included a flash-mob dance to Another One Bites the Dust, by Queen. Sandie, from Bristol, died of tongue cancer on 19 September, and was one of tens of thousands of people that contracted hepatitis C in the 1970s and 80s after being given infected blood

Sandie’s friend Sam said the ‘hardest thing was finding dancers to do it’ as many said they were not ‘comfortable’ with the idea

She added: ‘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.

‘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.

‘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.

Flaming Feathers dance troupe encourage mourners to clap while performing their number to Another One Bites The Dust 

The dancers strut between the aisles as they make a dramatic exit following their performance at the funeral of Sandie 

While initially the crowd seemed shocked at the event, with one man ‘refusing to look’ at the performance, dance troupe manager and performer Claire says that the crowd were soon joining in

‘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.

‘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, from Bristol, described her 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.’

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