Kim Woodburn 'never stopped fighting for children of alcoholics' as video posted after star's death shows her in parliament urging for action after her own 'miserable' childhood

Daily Mail​

9 hours ago

Kim Woodburn fought tirelessly for people affected by alcoholism after suffering her own 'miserable' childhood with abusive parents.
The Celebrity Big Brother star sadly passed away aged 83 on Monday, June 16, her management announced in a statement on Wednesday.
Following her passing, a charity posed a tribute to the TV personality showing her in parliament urging for action on the cause.
Kim's career on the television spans nearly 25 years and within that time she certainly made some great television.
But away from her blunt and bossy persona which the public loved her for, the star had a soft and vulnerable side where she advocated for charities.
One in particular is Nacoa UK - a charity which provides support people affected by their parent's alcoholism through a free, confidential telephone and email helpline.
Taking to their official Instagram page on Saturday, the charity paid tribute to Kim following her death with one particular moment that showed just what kind of person the star really was.
In the clip, Kim in seen in parliament and said: 'My mother drank. She was an alcoholic. My stepfather was also rather brutal. It was a miserable existence. And I'm here to tell you that you never forget it.
'And when you're constantly told your "ugly" and "if I could have sent you back when you were born, I would've done," I'm sad about it to this day.
'We are all children when we're adults, you know. There's something in us that stays that little child.
'What I want to government to realise is that if we don't look after the children of today, they're the adults of tomorrow.
'If we want them to function as grown ups, we've got to help them. They're only little souls.
'So I'm asking you, as the government, please prioritse your spending. I know there's a great deal of spending. It's not just the little ones, is it? But they're priority aren't they?
'And if not, why not?'
Alongside the clip the charity gushed over her many achievements with the charity
Alongside the touching clip, the charity penned: 'RIP Kim. We will never stop fighting for children affected by their parents drinking.
'We've come so far, but the horizon is still a way ahead - to a destination Kim Woodburn so beautifully described.
'Great friends have joined us along the way. And through this @nacoauk movement for change, we create a legacy of one day seeing real change for these most vulnerable and hurting young people.
'This government continues to stick its head in the sand. A sad, sad thing. But our people keep brining us hope.
'Kim Woodburn put her name to our work when our issue was even more controversial than it is now.
'She brought patron @camilla.tominey into the fold, leading to amazing impact that changed the world for COAs.
'To many people's surprise, she brought the Parliamentary Group for Children of Alcoholics to tears. You'll remember, @liambyrnemp!
'In parliament is where this video was filmed, ten years ago. It rings as true today as ever.
'The fight goes on, Kim. But you can now rest in peace. #URNotAlone.'
Kim - whose full name is Patricia Mary Woodburn - was born in Eastney, Hampshire, in March 1942 to parents Pat and Ron Mackenzie, with her early life was marked by upheaval and trauma (pictured in 1968)
Born in Eastney, Hampshire, in March 1942 to parents Pat and Ron Mackenzie, Kim's early life was marked by upheaval and trauma.
She told in her autobiography that her mother 'deprived me of the love and security a child ought to have.'
Kim claimed that the very fact that she was a girl was seen by her parents as her first 'crime'.
Her mother would 'regularly' brand her a 'little b****' and tell her that if she could 'send her back' she would.
She and her sister Gloria, who was 19 months older than her and known as Gezzie, were sent to live with their grandmother after their mother 'took off' with one of her philandering father's friends.
And when that arrangement proved too taxing, the sisters were sent to a foster home.
Their mother would turn up every few weeks 'without warning' to 'claim us back', Kim said.
The star was also savagely beaten by her mother.
In recent weeks, Kim had cancelled her work commitments due to health concerns, confirming she would no longer be offering Cameo videos in a statement on Instagram on March 2
She recalled the 'sharp intake of breath' of an NSPCC inspector when he saw the bruises covering her back after a beating that her mother falsely blamed on her husband.
Kim detailed how she fled her mother's influence a month before she turned 16, when she found refuge at the home her father shared with his second wife.
However, in 2017, Kim claimed that her father also abused her, including sexually.
Speaking on This Morning, she said: 'My father was a Royal Marine. He was physically abusive. He would hit me with carpet brushes.'
Asked if it was sexual, she added: 'Oh yes'.
Kim's passing was announced on Wednesday.
Her representative confirmed to MailOnline: 'It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved Kim Woodburn passed away yesterday following a short illness.
'Kim was an incredibly kind, caring, charismatic and strong person. Her husband Peter is heartbroken at the loss of his soulmate.
'We are so proud of the amazing things Kim achieved in her life and career.
'We kindly ask that Kim's husband and close friends are given the time and privacy they need to grieve. We will not be releasing any further details.'
Kim is survived by her husband Peter - who she married in 1979.
In a heartbreaking post on Instagram following her passing, he shared a slideshow of images of Kim since birth.
He penned in a caption: 'My wonderful, beautiful, Kim passed away last night. God bless, my love, xxxx.'
In the months before her death, Kim had paused her work commitments due to ill health and she also underwent surgery on her eye earlier this year.
Known as the 'Queen of Clean', Kim rose to fame as the co-host of Channel 4's popular series How Clean is Your House? at the age of 60.
Kim went on to become a household name on ITV chat shows This Morning and Loose Women.
She also starred in a number of reality TV shows including a stint on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2009 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2017.