Harding funeral unites two loves

The two women in the football tycoon Matthew Harding's life were united in grief at his funeral yesterday.

His estranged wife Ruth, 42, and lover Vicky Jaramillo, 25, came together for the first time at the service in the East Sussex village of Ditchling, where the Chelsea vice-chairman and Mrs Harding had lived. But they did not speak to one another, and Ms Jaramillo slipped away from the church in tears minutes before the service ended, leaving the widow, her four children and Mr Harding's father Paul, to accompany his coffin to the cremation.

Among the 100 mourners were the Chelsea chairman Ken Bates, player-manager Ruud Gullit, England coach Glenn Hoddle, and Labour's deputy leader John Prescott.

Mr Harding, 42, a multi-millionaire, died with four other men in a helicopter crash last Tuesday, on the way back from watching Chelsea play. His ashes are to be scattered at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea's ground.