Dame Deborah James’ coffin was carried by loved ones into the church at her funeral in west London. Dame Deborah’s husband Sebastien and son Hugo were among those who carried the straw coffin, adorned with the rose bearing her name, into St Mary’s Church in Barnes on Wednesday afternoon as close friends and family gathered to say goodbye to the inspirational cancer campaigner. The podcast host and mother of two, who became known as Bowelbabe, her social media handle, died last month aged 40 after being diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016.

Funeral of Dame Deborah James Son Hugo, husband Sebastien Bowen and daughter Eloise walk with the family behind the hearse as it arrives for the funeral of Dame Deborah James at St Mary’s Church in Barnes, west London PA A bereaved person carries a copy of the service order PA wire The hearse and cortege arrive for the funeral of Dame Deborah James at St Mary’s Church in Barnes, west London PA wire The coffin is carried into the church by pallbearers during the funeral of Dame Deborah James at St Mary’s Church Getty Images Mourners carrying flowers arrive at St Mary’s Church in Barnes, west London, for the funeral of Deborah James PA wire Lorraine Kelly arrives at St. Mary’s Church in Barnes PA wire The funeral procession for Dame Deborah James PA wire Hugo Bowen (second right) and Sebastien Bowen (R) lead the procession with parents Alistair James and Heather James (back) during the funeral of Dame Deborah James at St Mary’s Church Getty Images A mourner carries flowers as they arrive for the funeral of Dame Deborah James at St Mary’s Church in Barnes, west London. PA Tom Fletcher and Giovanna Fletcher PA Mourners arrive carrying flowers at the funeral of Dame Deborah James at St Mary’s Church in Barnes PA A wreath being carried towards the church during the funeral of Dame Deborah James at St Mary’s Church Getty Images Natalie Rushdie and Zafar Rushdie Getty Images Her coffin arrived in a vintage Rolls-Royce hearse as more than a dozen family members walked in procession behind.

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The family, all dressed in black, were greeted by the Reverend of the Anglican church before they made their way inside. Earlier this year, Dame Deborah had a rose in her honor displayed at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Before the private service, family members carried a wreath of white flowers into the church. An attached note read: “Deborah, thank you to our wonderful friend. You along with Seb, Eloise and Hugo are such an important part of our family, we will love and miss you forever.” A mourner carries a copy of the order of service (Aaron Chown/PA) / PA Wire The church bells rang at 12.30pm before the service, which started at 1pm and included readings and music by relatives. Lorraine Kelly, Gaby Roslin, McFly star Tom Fletcher and his podcaster wife Giovanna were among those in attendance. Husband Sebastien delivered a eulogy while their children Hugo and Eloise read poems. Family friend and classically trained jazz singer Natalie Rushdie, who is married to author Salman Rushdie’s son Zafar, sang Tell Me It’s Not True from the musical Blood Brothers.

Deborah James, aka the Bowel Babe
Dame Deborah James and her brother Benjamin James attend Royal Ascot 2022 at Ascot Racecourse on June 15, 2022 in Ascot, England. Dave Bennett We are proud to present Dame Deborah James Rose in honor of @bowelbabe World of Roses Deborah James remained in high spirits despite her condition Deborah James Dame Deborah James, with her husband Sebastian Bowen, during a private tour of the Chelsea Flower Show (The Harkness Rose Company/PA) PA Medium Deborah James shared a photo of her meeting Prince William as the royal family presented her with her beast. Deborah James Deborah James shared a photo of her meeting Prince William as the royal family presented her with her beast. Deborah James Deborah James shared a photo of her meeting Prince William as the royal family presented her with her beast. Deborah James Deborah James shared a photo of her meeting Prince William as the royal family presented her with her beast. Deborah James Deborah James shared a photo of her meeting Prince William as the royal family presented her with her beast. Deborah James Deborah James @BowelBabe with her husband Sebastien Deborah James @BowelBabe Instagram Deborah James @Bowelbabe Instagram Deborah James @Bowelbabe Instagram Deborah James @BowelBabe Instagram Deborah James @BowelBabe Instagram Deborah James @BowelBabe Instagram Deborah James @BowelBabe Instagram Deborah James with her husband Sebastien and two children Deborah James @Bowelbabe Instagram Deborah James aka the Bowel Babe who has documented her battle with cancer on her Instagram Deborah James Deborah James @BowelBabe Instagram Deborah James @BowelBabe Instagram Deborah James @BowelBabe Instagram Deborah James @BowelBabe Instagram Deborah James with her husband Sebastien and two children Deborah James @BowelBabe Instagram Deborah James @BowelBabe Instagram Deborah James @BowelBabe Instagram Deborah James @BowelBabe Instagram Deborah James @BowelBabe Instagram Deborah James @BowelBabe with her husband Deborah James @BowelBabe Instagram Deborah James @BowelBabe Instagram Deborah James @BowelBabe Instagram Deborah James aka the Bowel Babe who has documented her battle with cancer on her Instagram Deborah James Deborah James aka the Bowel Babe who has documented her battle with cancer on her Instagram Deborah James Deborah James aka the Bowel Babe who has documented her battle with cancer on her Instagram Deborah James Deborah James aka the Bowel Babe who has documented her battle with cancer on her Instagram Deborah James Deborah James aka the Bowel Babe who has documented her battle with cancer on her Instagram Deborah James Deborah James aka the Bowel Babe who has documented her battle with cancer on her Instagram Deborah James

Deborah James aka the Bowel Babe who has documented her battle with cancer on her Instagram Deborah James / The Bowel Babe Deborah James aka the Bowel Babe who has documented her battle with cancer on her Instagram Deborah James / The Bowel Babe Deborah James aka the Bowel Babe who has documented her battle with cancer on her Instagram Deborah James / The Bowel Babe Deborah James aka the Bowel Babe who has documented her battle with cancer on her Instagram Deborah James / The Bowel Babe Deborah James aka the Bowel Babe who has documented her battle with cancer on her Instagram Instagram Cellist Charles Watt played music by Gabriel Faure, while family friend Sarah Mountford read a passage from Ecclesiastes. After the service, the family left the church with bowed heads for a private wake while Dame Deborah’s coffin was carried by car. Reverend David Cooke stood at the gates to bless the mourners. Dame Deborah, a former deputy headteacher, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 and has since kept her almost one million Instagram followers updated on her treatments. Pallbearers carry the coffin of Dame Deborah James (Aaron Chown/PA) / PA Wire Her candid posts about her progress and diagnosis, including videos of her dancing during treatment, won praise from the public and media. 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. @bowelbabe / Twitter She received end-of-life care with her husband, Sebastien, and their two children, 14-year-old Hugo and 12-year-old Eloise, by her side. In her final months, the BBC You, Me And The Big C podcast presenter raised almost £7m for cancer research, with the figure set to rise further following her death. She became famous for her “tireless” work to improve awareness of the disease, with the honor being presented 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.