Friends and family members remembered Annie Nightingale at a memorial in London on Thursday afternoon, four months after the pioneering DJ passed away.
Nightingale, BBC radio’s first ever female disc jockey, died at home aged 83 on January 11 following a short illness.
And those who knew her best were in attendance at Trafalgar Square’s St Martin-in-the-Fields for a memorial of the talented DJ’s life and career.
Guests included photographer Mary McCartney, the daughter of Beatles legend Sir Paul, Primal Scream singer Bobby Gillespie and TV and radio presenter Sara Cox.
The Who front-man Sir Roger Daltrey also attended with his wife Heather, while former BBC DJ Nick Grimshaw, designer Pam Hogg and legendary dance music DJ Pete Tong also paid their respects.
![Annie Nightingale’s legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing Annie Nightingale’s legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/16/84965495-13426705-image-m-84_1715873211168.jpg)
Sir Paul McCartney’s photographer daughter Mary McCartney attended a memorial for BBC radio pioneer Annie Nightingale on Thursday, four months after her death
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 3 Nightingale, BBC radio's first ever female disc jockey, died at home aged 83 on January 11 following a short illness](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/16/79937735-13426705-Legendary_Radio_1_DJ_Annie_Nightingale_has_died_at_home_aged_83_-a-121_1715875115215.jpg)
Nightingale, BBC radio’s first ever female disc jockey, died at home aged 83 on January 11 following a short illness
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 5 Primal Scream singer Bobby Gillespie and radio and TV presenter Sara Cox](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/16/84965491-13426705-image-a-82_1715873129696.jpg)
Primal Scream singer Bobby Gillespie and radio and TV presenter Sara Cox
Nightingale’s children Alex and Lucy remembered their mother with separate speeches as mourners remembered the beloved DJ.
Further tributes came from Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh, presenter Lauren Laverne and BBC Director of Music Lorna Clarke.
The broadcaster joined Radio 1 in 1970 as its first ever female DJ and went on to become its longest-serving host. Known for promoting new and underground music, she was also praised for supporting other women in a male-dominated industry.
Following her death BBC director general Tim Davie hailed Nightingale as a ‘uniquely gifted broadcaster who blessed us with her love of music and passion for journalism for 50 years’, while Radio 1 DJ Danny Howard called her an ‘all time radio great’.
A stylish presence both on and off the screen, Nightingale was photographed alongside the likes of Kate Moss – who attended a party to mark her 40th anniversary at Radio 1.
Another of her confidants was Sir McCartney, who dramatically phoned her live on air to give a statement after John Lennon was assassinated in 1980. ‘Don’t wobble,’ Nightingale told herself – as she recalled in a 2020 interview.
Her role saw her interview a dizzying cast of celebrities, including Sean Connery for his first role in James Bond. It would be one of the many highpoints of a career that began as a general reporter on her local paper, the Brighton and Hove Gazette.
She is survived by two children – Alex and Lucy – who she shared with first husband Thomas. She was later married to actor Tony ‘Binky’ Baker but the couple divorced.
A family statement confirming her death said: ‘Annie Nightingale MBE passed away yesterday at her home in London after a short illness.
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 7 Mary was joined by former Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw at the memorial service on Thursday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/16/84966105-13426705-image-m-86_1715873768738.jpg)
Mary was joined by former Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw at the memorial service on Thursday
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 9 Tributes came from Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh...](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/16/84966113-13426705-image-m-90_1715873843519.jpg)
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 11 ... and BBC Director of Music Lorna Clarke](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/16/84966109-13426705-image-a-91_1715873848956.jpg)
Tributes came from Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh, presenter Lauren Laverne and BBC Director of Music Lorna Clarke.
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 13 Alex and Lucy Nightingale, the late DJ's two children with author ex-husband Gordon Thomas, led the service on Thursday afternoon](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/16/84966107-13426705-image-m-93_1715873863295.jpg)
Alex and Lucy Nightingale, the late DJ’s two children with author ex-husband Gordon Thomas, led the service on Thursday afternoon
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 15 Alex, aged 12, and Lucy, aged seven with Annie at a park near their Brighton home in 1975](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/16/79940795-13426705-She_is_survived_by_two_children_Alex_and_Lucy_who_she_shared_wit-a-122_1715875149584.jpg)
Alex, aged 12, and Lucy, aged seven with Annie at a park near their Brighton home in 1975
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 17 Both Lucy...](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/16/84966095-13426705-image-a-101_1715874209411.jpg)
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 19 ... and Alex gave spex eches in front of a large projected image of their mother at the St Martin-in-the-Fields service](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/16/84966469-13426705-image-m-100_1715874203337.jpg)
Both Lucy (left) and Alex (right) gave speeches in front of a large projected image of their mother at the St Martin-in-the-Fields service
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 21 TV and radio presenter Lauren Laverne also took to the podium to share her recollections of the late DJ on Thursday afternoon](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/16/84966097-13426705-image-m-102_1715874295902.jpg)
TV and radio presenter Lauren Laverne also took to the podium to share her recollections of the late DJ on Thursday afternoon
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 23 A stylish presence both on and off the screen, Nightingale was photographed alongside the likes of Kate Moss - who attended a party to mark her 40th anniversary at Radio 1](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/17/79936509-13426705-A_stylish_presence_both_on_and_off_the_screen_Nightingale_was_ph-a-123_1715875205891.jpg)
A stylish presence both on and off the screen, Nightingale was photographed alongside the likes of Kate Moss – who attended a party to mark her 40th anniversary at Radio 1
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 25 Singer Bobby Gillespie...](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/16/84966803-13426705-image-a-117_1715874619242.jpg)
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 27 ... and fashion designer Pam Hogg held the order of service after making their way into the Trafalgar Square venue](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/16/84966805-13426705-image-m-116_1715874608654.jpg)
Singer Bobby Gillespie (left and fashion designer Pam Hogg (right) held the order of service after making their way into the Trafalgar Square venue
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 29 Alex Nightingale joined Sara Cox as they celebrated the late DJ's life and career on Thursday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/16/84966807-13426705-image-a-119_1715874633568.jpg)
Alex Nightingale joined Sara Cox as they celebrated the late DJ’s life and career on Thursday
‘Annie was a pioneer, trailblazer and an inspiration to many. Her impulse to share that enthusiasm with audiences remains undimmed after six decades of broadcasting on BBC TV and radio globally.
‘Never underestimate the role model she became. Breaking down doors by refusing to bow down to sexual prejudice and male fear gave encouragement to generations of your women who, like Annie, only wanted to tell you about an amazing tune they had just heard.
‘Watching Annie do this on television in the 1970s, most famously as a presenter on the BBC music show The Old Grey Whistle Test or hearing her play the latest breakbeat techno on Radio One is testimony to someone who never stopped believing in the magic of rock ‘n’ roll.’
Nightingale first broadcast on the BBC in 1963 as a panelist on Juke Box Jury, before joining Radio 1 seven years later.
She remained the station’s only female DJ until 1982, when Janice Long joined, and is credited with helping to pave the way for the likes of Sara Cox, Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball.
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 31 The Who front-man Sir Roger Daltrey also attended with his wife Heather (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/16/84966635-13426705-image-a-104_1715874476083.jpg)
The Who front-man Sir Roger Daltrey also attended with his wife Heather (pictured)
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 33 DJ's Pete Tong and Sara Cox](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/16/84966629-13426705-image-m-109_1715874554733.jpg)
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 35 Sir Roger Daltrey and Lucy Nightingale](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/16/84966655-13426705-image-a-110_1715874559175.jpg)
DJ’s Pete Tong and Sara Cox (left), and Sir Roger Daltrey and Lucy Nightingale (right)
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 37 Pam Hogg (left) posed for a photo after taking to her seat at the venue in London on Thursday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/16/84966619-13426705-image-m-120_1715874853771.jpg)
Pam Hogg (left) posed for a photo after taking to her seat at the venue in London on Thursday
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 39 The late broadcaster posing with Paul McCartney, who once called her live on air after John Lennon's death](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/17/79936515-13426705-The_broadcaster_posing_with_Paul_McCartney_who_once_called_her_l-a-124_1715875225467.jpg)
The late broadcaster posing with Paul McCartney, who once called her live on air after John Lennon’s death
![Annie Nightingale's legacy honored by Mary McCartney, Bobby Gillespie, and Sara Cox in touching Trafalgar Square memorial event, months after her passing 41 Nightingale being handed a Guinness World Record as the longest serving female broadcaster by Liam Gallagher, one of her favourite musicians](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/16/17/79936513-13426705-Nightingale_being_handed_a_Guinness_World_Record_as_the_longest_-a-125_1715875247650.jpg)
Nightingale being handed a Guinness World Record as the longest serving female broadcaster by Liam Gallagher, one of her favourite musicians