Heartwarming reason behind Sharon Osbourne’s gesture to fans as she lays Ozzy to rest

At one point, Sharon and the rest of the family could be seen raising their hands into a peace sign – which is a gesture that has always been associated with Ozzy.

One fan explained on Facebook: “Just an observation from a guy who has been a Sabbath/Ozzy fan since the 70s.

Sharon Osbourne could be seen making the gesture (BBC)

“Some will say I am nit picking and not respecting how others view things.

“But I am seeing a lot of posts and pictures of billboards with images of the devil horns hand sign. Now I know that sign has become the ‘official’ sign of rock and roll, but Ozzy’s gesture has always been the double peace sign.

“It was Dio that did the horns and made them popular with rock and roll long after Ozzy had been doing the double peace signs. Let’s all please remember just another one of the things that Ozzy brought us!”

At the procession, Ozzy’s hearse was decorated with purple flowers that spelt out ‘Ozzy’.

Meanwhile, musicians from Bostin Brass played Black Sabbath songs while flowers were thrown at the hearse as it passed by.

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham spoke about what Ozzy meant to the city.

Sharon was accompanied by her children (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

He said: “Ozzy was more than a music legend – he was a son of Birmingham.

“Having recently been awarded the Freedom of the City and following his celebrated appearance at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park earlier this month, it was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral. We know how much this moment will mean to his fans.

“We’re proud to host it here with his loving family in the place where it all began, and we are grateful that they have generously offered to pay to enable this to happen and support the city is giving him the farewell he deserves.”