TROGGS fans mingled with rock royalty of the 1960s and 70s as hundreds of mourners gathered at Basingstoke Crematorium to say goodbye to the band’s frontman Reg Presley, who died at his Andover home earlier this month, aged 71.

Among those paying their respects were national names such as Noddy Holder from Slade, Bruce Welch from The Shadows as well as several members from groups that enjoyed great popularity in the 1960s such as Herman’s Hermits, The Merseybeats and The Tremeloes.

Chip Taylor, who penned the Troggs’ biggest worldwide hit Wild Thing, flew in from the United States for the service, but Reg’s close friend Colin Andrews, who worked with him on crop-circle research, was prevented from attending by a snowstorm which grounded his flight in Connecticut.

Wayne Fontana, who topped the US charts in 1965 with Game of Love on the same Fontana record label as The Troggs, was one of those outside the overflowing crematorium listening to the service over the loudspeaker.

He said: “Reg was always a pleasure to be with. I can remember sitting up for hours into the night when we were on the QEII talking about crop circles and putting the world to rights.

“He was a charming and very funny man with a dry humour – sometimes he didn’t realise just how funny he was.

“I had known him since the 1960s and he really will be missed.”

The service began with Sting’s song Fields of Gold but the other music was provided by The Troggs – Love is All Around and Wild Thing.

See today's paper for all the photos.