Deborah James funeral: Mourners pay respects to Bowelbabe at London church

Deborah James funeral: Mourners pay respects to Bowelbabe at London church
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Tom Evans

By Tom Evans


Published: 20/07/2022

- 13:27

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:49

The podcast host and mum-of-two, who became known as Bowelbabe, her social media handle, died last month aged 40

Mourners including Lorraine Kelly and Gaby Roslin arrived for the funeral of Dame Deborah James in London.

Dame Deborah was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016.


Close friends and family arrived at St Mary’s Church in Barnes ahead of the service.

TV presenters Kelly and Roslin, who were both friends of Dame Deborah, carried a wreath of white flowers as they filed into the West London venue alongside family members.

A note attached to the flowers said: “Deborah, thank you to our extraordinary friend. You together with Seb, Eloise and Hugo are such an important part of our family, we will love and miss you forever.”

Her coffin was driven to the church in a vintage Rolls-Royce hearse as more than a dozen members of her family walked in procession behind.

The family, all dressed in black, were greeted by the vicar at the Anglican St Mary’s Church in Barnes.

Dame Deborah’s husband Sebastien and son Hugo were among the pallbearers who carried the wicker coffin, adorned with the rose that bears her name, into the church in silence.

Dame Deborah had a rose named in her honour which went on display at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show earlier this year.

The funeral procession for Dame Deborah James arrives at St Mary's Church in Barnes, west London. Picture date: Wednesday July 20, 2022.
Deborah James' coffin driven in a vintage Rolls-Royce
Dominic Lipinski

(Left to right) Son Hugo, husband Sebastien Bowen, and daughter Eloise, walk with family behind the hearse as it arrives for the funeral service of Dame Deborah James at St Mary's Church in Barnes, west London. Picture date: Wednesday July 20, 2022.
Deborah James' funeral took place in Barnes
Dominic Lipinski

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