Lauren Mahon reflects on her friend Deborah James' funeral

2022-07-22

‘What I’d give to take your hand, one last time’: Dame Deborah James’ podcast co-host Lauren Mahon reflects on her friend’s ‘beautiful, uplifting and theatrical’ funeral

Dame Deborah James’ podcast co-host Lauren Mahon has reflected on the cancer campaigner’s funeral
Lauren said online she wasn’t ready to do the ‘goodbye post’ yet but wanted to comment on ‘our Dame’s day’
Podcast host attended the private service at St Mary’s Church in Barnes on Wednesday, for Dame Deborah

Dame Deborah James’ podcast co-host Lauren Mahon has reflected on the cancer campaigner’s ‘beautiful, uplifting and at times theatrical’ funeral – and praised the ‘composure’ of the late 40-year-old’s family.

Dame Deborah, a podcast host and mother-of-two who became known as Bowelbabe, after her social media handle, and raised £7million for charity – died last month aged 40 following her bowel cancer diagnosis in 2016.

‘Still processing our Dame’s perfect send off. Felt very surreal yet overwhelmingly real. All in equal measure,’ wrote Lauren yesterday. ‘I’m not ready to do the “goodbye” post just yet but wanted to acknowledge the Dame’s day. The beautiful uplifting and at times theatrical service. The composure of @BowelBabe’s family and friends.

Dame Deborah James’ podcast co-host Lauren Mahon, pictured with Dame Deborah and Rachel Bland on their podcast You, Me and Big C, has reflected on the cancer campaigner’s ‘beautiful, uplifting and at times theatrical’ funeral – and praised the ‘composure’ of the late 40-year-old’s family

Taking to Instagram, Lauren, 37, admitted she wasn’t ready to do the ‘goodbye post’ yet but wanted to comment on ‘our Dame’s day’ after attending the private service at St Mary’s Church in Barnes on Wednesday. She added that her hand was held tightly by many who loved Deborah at her funeral, pictured right

Lauren also shared a photograph of the order of service. Lauren and Dame Deborah hosted the podcast ‘You, Me and The Big C’ along with Steve Bland, widower of their friend Rachel Bland, who died of breast cancer in 2018

‘You did her so very proud. She’s trained you well. Wink. The opportunity to both sympathise and celebrate. And to do that hand in hand with my podcast family. Deb and I held each other’s hand through so much.

‘(Swipe to see us the day after Rach’s death). Yesterday my hand was held tightly by so many who loved Deb and who love me too. For that I’m eternally grateful, but what I’d give to take your hand, one last time. My DDJ.’

Elsewhere, Lorraine Kelly paid tribute to her ‘dear friend’ Dame Deborah.

TV presenters Kelly and Roslin – who were both friends of Dame Deborah – were seen filing out of the church alongside family members carrying a wreath of white flowers. Tom Fletcher and his podcaster wife Giovanna were pictured holding hands as they left.

Kelly, who broke down in tears during her show, Lorraine, when James’ death was announced in June, said: ‘My dear friend your funeral today was beautiful. Your children and your husband gave the most heartfelt and lovely tributes. You would have been so proud. I miss you – you fabulous, funny, passionate force of nature.’

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 as other celebrities including McFly’s Tom Fletcher, and Gaby Roslin attended.

After sharing her experiences on living with the illness on social media, Deborah became known as the ‘Bowel Babe’ and in 2018, she joined Lauren Mahon and Rachael Bland to present the award-winning podcast You, Me and the Big C on Radio 5 Live

Lorraine Kelly, who broke down in tears during her show, Lorraine, when James’ death was announced in June, said: ‘My dear friend your funeral today was beautiful. Your children and your husband gave the most heartfelt and lovely tributes. You would have been so proud. I miss you – you fabulous, funny, passionate force of nature.’

TV presenters Lorraine Kelly (left) and Gaby Roslin (right – in sunglasses next to BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth) are seen leaving the church. Behind Lorraine is Helen Addis, a producer on her show and a cancer campaigner

Dame Deborah’s husband, Sebastien, and children, Hugo and Eloise, leave St Mary’s church with family following her service

Pallbearers carried her wicker coffin into a waiting vintage Rolls Royce following Wednesday’s service in Barnes

Cellist Charles Watt played music from Gabriel Faure, while family friend Sarah Mountford read an extract from Ecclesiastes.

After the service, the family left St Mary’s Church in Barnes, south-west London with bowed heads for a private wake, while Dame Deborah’s wicker coffin – adorned with a rose that was named in her honour – was carried away by car. The Rev David Cooke stood at the gates to wish the mourners farewell.

Dame Deborah, a former deputy headteacher, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 and subsequently kept her nearly one million Instagram followers up to date with her treatments.

Her candid posts about her progress and diagnosis, including videos of her dancing her way through treatment, won praise from the public and media alike.

Dame Deborah revealed in early May that she had stopped active treatment and was seeing out her final days at her parents’ home in Woking, Surrey.

Dame Deborah’s husband, Sebastien, and children, Hugo and Eloise, leave St Mary’s church with family following her service

McFly’s Tom Fletcher leaving the funeral service in south-west London hand in hand with his podcaster wife, Giovanna

She received end-of-life care with her husband, Sebastien, and their two children, 14-year-old son Hugo and 12-year-old daughter Eloise, by her side,

In her final months, the presenter of the BBC podcast You, Me And The Big C raised almost £7 million for cancer research, with the amount climbing further following her death.

Dame Deborah 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 home.

Her death was announced on June 28 with a message saying she had died peacefully, surrounded by her family.

William and Kate, charities, celebrities and many whose lives have been affected by cancer shared tributes.

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