Hundreds of George Michael fans have paid tribute to the iconic singer at the first public memorial for the pop star.

Over 350 people attended the service at St James the Apostle Church in Hertfordshire for a Service of Thanksgiving for the singer who died on Christmas Day.

Following the service on Sunday, fans went to the Three Crowns Pub in Bushey, where George and band-mate Andrew Ridgeley decided to form their band Wham! in 1981.

The day was organised by the George Michael Appreciation Society, which was created after his death.

The service included several of George’s greatest hits including Jesus to a Child and Wake me up before you Go-Go.

The late singer’s private funeral took place on March 29 at Highgate Cemetery.

Speaking after the service, society founder Tracey Wills, 45, from Bushey, said: “When I first heard the news about his death I was in tears and on Boxing Day I thought I wanted to do something pay my respects.

“We had a service at the church to light a candle and after that I thought it would be good to set up a Facebook group as a way to remember him. It’s just grown from there and I can’t believe how it’s taken off.”

Tracey said she was surprised by the amount of support received including from people who travelled from across the world.

“We’ve had people from all over the country and we even had some from Malta, Spain and Switzerland.

“Today was important because I felt the fans wanted the chance to say goodbye with a service or funeral. Obviously the family had a private funeral, but the fans wanted to say goodbye too.”

The society is also holding a disco at George’s former school, the Bushey Academy, to raise money for the 1st Bushey Heath Scout Hut, where he performed his first gig as a teenager.

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