Family and friends gather for emotional farewell at funeral of Dame Deborah James
20.07.2022 - 17:51
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
The funeral of Dame Deborah James was held today, with family and close friends gathering for an intimate private service in west London.
The much-loved cancer campaigner and podcaster, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016, tragically died last month aged 40. Her family announced her death in a statement on Instagram, saying she passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones.
She was made a dame for her “tireless” work improving awareness of the disease, with the honour conferred by the Duke of Cambridge, who joined her family for afternoon tea and champagne at their home before she passed away.
McFly star Tom Fletcher and wife Giovanna, Lorraine Kelly and Gaby Roslin were among mourners at St Mary's Church in Barnes on Wednesday afternoon.
The mother of two became known as Bowelbabe after her social media handle.
The service saw husband Sebastien deliver a eulogy while their children Hugo and Eloise both read poems. Family friend and classically trained jazz singer Natalie Rushdie, who is married to novelist Salman Rushdie’s son Zafar, sang Tell Me It’s Not True from the musical Blood Brothers.
Cellist Charles Watt played music from Gabriel Faure, while family friend Sarah Mountford read an extract from Ecclesiastes. After the service, the family left the church with bowed heads for a private wake, while Dame Deborah’s coffin was carried away by car.
The Rev David Cooke stood at the gates to wish the mourners farewell. On Wednesday morning, Dame Deborah’s coffin had arrived in a vintage Rolls-Royce hearse with more than a dozen members of family walking in procession behind.
Her husband and son were among those who carried the wicker coffin, adorned with the rose that bears her name, into St Mary’s