The brother of Dame Deborah James has thanked his ‘big sis Debs’ for helping him ‘find a life that is worth enjoying’ in an emotional tribute to the star – as family, friends and celebrities bid farewell to the cancer campaigner at her funeral.
Benjamin James posted the heartfelt words on Instagram before the funeral took place on Wednesday and said her legacy would ‘live on forever’.
He accompanied the touching words with a selection of images of the pair showing their close bond, including an image of them running the Race for Life, which raises funds for cancer research.
Benjamin wrote: ‘Big sis, Debs. Thank you for teaching me how to live life to the full since the day I was born – you made me find that life worth enjoying!
‘Saying bye is never going to be easy, but knowing you achieved more than any of us could ever dream of…and so, so much more…makes it that little bit more bearable.
‘Your legacy will go on forever and we’ll do our very best to make you proud. Take it easy up there. Here’s to you x.’
Dame Deborah, a podcast host and mother of two who became known as Bowelbabe – after her social media handle – died last month aged 40 after being diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016.
The funeral service of the late star saw husband Sebastien deliver a eulogy while their children Hugo, 14, and 12-year-old Eloise, both read poems after paying a heartfelt farewell to Dame Deborah alongside family, friends and celebrities including McFly’s Tom Fletcher, Lorraine Kelly and Gaby Roslin.
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.
The brother of Dame Deborah James has thanked his ‘big sis Debs’ for helping him ‘find a life that is worth enjoying’ in an emotional tribute to the star – as family, friends and celebrities bid farewell to the cancer campaigner at her funeral
Benjamin James posted the heartfelt words on Instagram before the funeral took place on Wednesday and said her legacy would ‘go on forever’
He accompanied the touching words with a selection of images of the pair showing their close bond, including an image of them running the Race for Life, which raises funds for cancer research. Pictured: Dame Deborah James and her brother Benjamin
Dame Deborah’s husband, Sebastien, and children, Hugo and Eloise, leave St Mary’s church with family following her service on Wednesday
Pallbearers carried her wicker coffin into a waiting vintage Rolls Royce following Wednesday’s service in Barnes
TV presenters Lorraine Kelly (left) and Gaby Roslin (right – in sunglasses next to BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth) are seen leaving the church yesterday. Behind Lorraine is Helen Addis, a producer on her show and a cancer campaigner
McFly’s Tom Fletcher leaving yesterday’s funeral service in south-west London hand in hand with his podcaster wife, Giovanna
During the service, family friend and classically-trained jazz singer Natalie Rushdie, who is married to novelist Salmon Rushdie’s son Zafar, sung Tell Me It’s Not True
Deborah James’ sister, Sarah James. embraces a mourner as they leave the funeral service
Dame Deborah’s husband, Sebastien, and children, Hugo and Eloise, leave St Mary’s church with family following her service
Gaby Roslin and BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth (right) leave the service, which lasted for around an hour
McFly star Tom Fletcher and wife Giovanna were among the attendees at St Mary’s Church in Barnes
Family members including Dame Deborah’s husband Sebastien and children Hugo and Eloise outside St Mary’s following the service
Dame Deborah’s wicker coffin – adorned with a rose that was named in her honour – was seen being carried out of the church by pallbearers
The wicker coffin being carried out by pallbearers following yesterday afternoon’s intimate service attended by family and close friends
The Rev David Cooke stood at the gates to wish the mourners farewell following the hour-long service yesterday
The family came out of the church in silence and bowed their heads before leaving for a private wake on Wednesday
Family and friends of Dame Deborah look on as the hearse leaves down Church Road in Barnes, south-west London
Dame Deborah died last month aged 40 after being diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016. She became known as Bowelbabe, after her social media channel
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 the disease in 2016
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.
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.
On Wednesday morning, Dame Deborah’s coffin pulled up at the church in a vintage Rolls-Royce hearse followed by more than a dozen members of her family.
A note held by one of the mourners 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.’
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.
During the service, 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
Giovanna Fletcher and Tom Fletcher depart the funeral of Dame Deborah James at St Mary’s Church on Wednesday
Dame Deborah James’ husband, Sebastien, and children, Hugo, 14, and 12-year-old Eloise, walked behind a hearse carrying her wicker coffin
Hugo, Sebastien and Eloise led mourners for the intimate service at St Mary’s Church in Barnes, south-west London
Sebastien and son Hugo were among a small group of family who carried her wicker coffin into St Mary’s Church in south-west London
Dame Deborah’s 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
Dame Deborah had a rose named in her honour which went on display at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show earlier this year. The same type of rose lay on top of her coffin
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
Mourners carry the wicker coffin into St Mary’s Church on a bright, sunny Wednesday afternoon in Barnes, south-west London
McFly’s Tom Fletcher with his wife, Giovanna, were among the mourners gathering at St Mary’s Church for the funeral of Dame Deborah James
Family and close friends – including Lorraine Kelly – arrived at St Mary’s Church in Barnes, west London, ahead of the service
Gaby Roslin, who rose to fame co-presenting The Big Breakfast on Channel 4 in the 1990s, was also among the mourners
Another well-wisher carried an order of service and a page with the music to Tell Me It’s Not True by the Blood Brothers
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.
The coffin drove slowly down Church Road in Barnes, south-west London, followed by Dame Deborah’s family members
Her husband and two young children led the procession, with more than a dozen other relatives following behind
The hearse as it nears St Mary’s Church, which dates back to the 12th century before being partially destroyed in a fire in the 1970s
Her coffin arrived in a vintage Rolls-Royce hearse as more than a dozen members of family walked in procession behind
The church bells chimed at 12.30pm ahead of the service, which began at 1pm yesterday and is featuring readings and music from relatives
Hugo, Sebastien and Eloise following the hearse as it neared St Mary’s, an Anglican church in the south-west London suburb of Barnes
Dame Deborah’s death was announced on June 28 with a message saying she had died peacefully, surrounded by her family
Yesterday’s service was an intimate occasion attended by family and close friends of the campaigner, who raised more than £7m for charity
Pallbearers carry the coffin of Dame Deborah James as it arrives for her funeral service at St Mary’s Church in Barnes
Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie’s son Zafar and his wife Natalie arriving yesterday at St Mary’s Church in Barnes, west London
Close friends and family arriving at St Mary’s Church in Barnes, west London, ahead of the service on Wednesday
Mourners arrive at Dame Deborah’s funeral yesterday. The 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
The church bells chimed at 12.30pm ahead of the intimate service, which began at 1pm with readings and music from relatives
The intimate service begun at 1pm with readings and music from relatives (pictured are mourners arriving at the church yesterday)
She was made a dame by the Duke of Cambridge at her family home, with William praising her for ‘going above and beyond to make a very special memory’. Also pictured is her husband, Sebastien, and their children, Hugo and Eloise