Latest news with #Bowelbabe
Daily Mail
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Dame Deborah James's mother Heather shares heartbreaking tribute to her daughter on 3rd anniversary of cancer campaigner's death
Heather James posted a tribute to her daughter, Dame Deborah James, on the three year anniversary of her passing on Saturday. Deborah James was a journalist and cancer campaigner who died at the age of 40 on June 28, 2022 after launching and leading a phenomenal campaign to raise money for bowel cancer treatment. The campaigner also hosted the podcast You, Me and the Big C and shared her health journey online under the name Bowelbabe. After being diagnosed with bowel cancer when she was 35 years old in 2016, Deborah became a viral sensation for her social media content which showed her dancing her way through chemotherapy and living with 'rebellious hope'. On Saturday, Heather remembered her daughter in a touching tribute post which included pictures of Deborah enjoying previous Wimbledon 's with her parents. Beginning the tribute post, the mother wrote: 'It's hard to believe it's been 3 years today when we held Deborah's hand as she took her last breath. 'We think of you every day, remembering your enthusiasm, joy of life, wicked sense of humour, love of the family and of course that smile!' Relating her heartfelt message back to the pictures she had chosen, Heather reflected on Deborah's love of 'English summer.' Heather continued: 'You loved the English summer and everything that was part of it. 'Wimbledon was one of your favourite events from a young teenager when with your ground pass you would try to sneak into as many courts as you could! 'Alistair and I will be there this year remembering our last visits 4 years ago with Deborah. It is especially poignant as we were watching Wimbledon with her in the hours before her death at home and those last moments will always be a special part of our lives.' The first picture of the tribute post showed Deborah in an off-the-shoulder, frilly white bandeau top paired with a polka dot, navy blue and white maxi skirt. She seemed to be posing on a balcony with a wooden fence that overlooked a gorgeous leafy setting. In the second image Deborah was pictured with her mum at Wimbledon in a blue and white pinstriped blazer layered over a matching striped shirt and tight white trousers. In the image it is clear to see how much the Deborah enjoyed the summer festivity as she beamed from ear to ear stood next to her mother while holding a hot drink. The final image of the tribute post showed Deborah with her father, a financer and now a cancer campaigner himself, enjoying a different day of the tennis tournament. In the snap the father daughter duo look smart in summery outfits while sipping on what looks to be glasses of Pimms. With her father the cancer campaigner is seen wearing a bright red polka dot, halter neck dress paired with a wide brimmed cream and black Panama hat. As per Heather's post, the images come from the family's last outing to Wimbledon together, one year before Deborah's passing. The mother's post then turned to remembering her daughter's work as a campaigner for other cancer sufferers and how her legacy has continued. Heather wrote: 'Whilst remembering Deborah on this anniversary we continue to be proud and humbled by the impact she is still having on so many. We thank you all for your incredible support for her legacy, The Bowelbabe Fund, which has now raised £18m which through Cancer Research UK and the projects we fund give more people more time with their loved ones and continues to break down the taboo around poo!' Last year on the How To Be 60 podcast on Friday, the mother of the late journalist admitted that she hadn't known much about the symptoms of bowel cancer Speaking to podcast host, Kaye Adams, she said: 'I knew nothing about bowel cancer at all, my sister died of breast cancer so I knew breast cancer, if you go out for a drink with the ladies you would talk about breast cancer, would you talk about your poo? No. 'She didn't know, I didn't know, when she kept saying "mum I've been to poo eight times today" and I told her to go to the doctors and she said "I have and it's ok" I thought that was fine. 'I didn't know what all the symptoms were, they are similar to irritable bowel syndrome. 'It wasn't picked up with a very young person because it's not something a 35 year old fit vegetarian fitted the program for so she wasn't checked for it.'
Telegraph
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Dame Deborah James's widower ‘in relationship with Swiss investment banker'
The widower of Dame Deborah James is reportedly in a relationship with a Swiss investment banker. Sebastien Bowen, 45, was pictured holding hands with Susann Aulbach while walking alongside the Thames in west London. The Daily Mail reported that Ms Aulback, 39, is the head of investor relations at a London finance firm. They were seen enjoying lunch at the the River Cafe in Hammersmith after Mr Bowen was said to have been given the blessing of his late wife's family to start dating again. Before her death from cancer in June 2022, aged 40, Dame Deborah told her husband he could move on but not 'marry a bimbo'. She was awarded a damehood by Prince William, who visited her at her parents' home in Woking, Surrey. After starting her end-of-life care, the former deputy headmistress said in an interview: 'I have given him strict instructions: I want him to move on. 'He's a handsome man. I'm like, 'don't be taken for a ride, don't marry a bimbo, find someone else who can make you laugh like we did'.' In 2023, her mother, Heather, said: 'Deborah will be a hard act to follow, but he has our blessing.' Mr Bowen and Dame Deborah married in 2008 and had two children together. She was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2015, and went on to call herself 'Bowelbabe'. The broadcaster, best known for the award-winning You, Me And The Big C, raised more than £11 million for cancer charities, including £3 million in three days after announcing that she was moving to hospice care. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge revealed that they were among the thousands who had donated. The couple tweeted: 'Every now and then, someone captures the heart of the nation with their zest for life and tenacious desire to give back to society. @bowelbabe is one of those special people. 'Her tireless efforts to raise awareness of bowel cancer and end the stigma of treatment are inspiring. We are so sad to hear her recent update but pleased to support the @bowelbabef (Bowelbabe Fund) which will benefit the @royalmarsdenNHS among others. 'Deborah, our thoughts are with you, your family and your friends. Thank you for giving hope to so many who are living with cancer. W & C.'
The Sun
23-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Deborah James' dad calls for NHS cancer revolution in letter to Government
DAME Deborah James' dad has backed calls for Wes Streeting to end cancer diagnosis and treatment delays, warning 'there is no time to lose'. Alistair James issued a plea for the Health Secretary to overhaul NHS care with the upcoming cancer strategy. 4 4 4 He has signed an open letter led by Cancer Research UK that calls for faster diagnosis, waiting time targets to be met, smoking reduction and more equal access to treatment. Sun columnist Dame Debs died in 2022 after a years-long battle with bowel cancer. Her Bowelbabe charity fund has since raised £17million for research and a laboratory at the prestigious Francis Crick Institute was recently named after the mum-of-two. Dad Alistair said: 'Three years ago this week, Deborah died at the age of 40 from bowel cancer. 'I am so proud that her legacy continues through the fantastic Bowelbabe Fund. 'Too many people are waiting too long to be diagnosed and treated for bowel cancer. 'And the percentage of cancers being diagnosed at an early stage, when there is a greater chance of survival, has hardly changed for almost a decade. 'We have an opportunity to shape the next decade of the government's plans for cancer and you can help make a difference by signing Cancer Research UK's open letter to the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting.' 4 The letter to Mr Streeting has already been signed by 5,500 people. It said: 'Nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetimes, and across England, cancer cases are increasing, patients face unacceptable waits and unequal access to treatment. 'In 2024 alone, 74,000 people in England were not treated on time for cancer. 'People with cancer deserve better. They need better. 'There is no time to waste.' Sign the letter online at
Daily Mail
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Husband of Dame Deborah James finds love again with 'mystery woman, three years after cancer campaigner's tragic death aged 40
Before she died at the age of just 40, cancer campaigner Dame Deborah James told her husband he should 'move on' after she was gone and find love again. Now, Sebastien Bowen might have fulfilled her wish. Last week, he was spotted hand in hand with a beautiful 'mystery' woman. The pair could be seen strolling on the towpath beside the Thames after enjoying a long, leisurely lunch at The River Cafe in Hammersmith, west London. Wearing an elegant red dress and sunglasses, the woman, who appeared to be in her 30s, gazed adoringly at Mr Bowen, 45. 'They looked like they were very much in love,' a passer-by said. 'It was very sweet. For anyone who was inspired by Dame Deborah's attitude to life, it was really heartening to see her husband looking happy again.' The River Cafe is the fashionable restaurant where Jamie Oliver began his career and the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Nigella Lawson have dined. Last December, The Mail on Sunday revealed that Mr Bowen was dipping his toe in the dating scene. Friends said he had been on several dates as he attempted to rebuild his life following his wife's death in June 2022. A source said: 'It's very early days for Seb and he's taking things very slowly. 'Deborah is going to be a tough act to follow as they had a fantastic marriage and made a great couple. 'But Seb feels the time has come for him to move on, as Deborah wanted him to.' Dame Deborah, who called herself 'Bowelbabe', raised more than £11million for cancer research. The pair share a joke as they walked along the River Thames near Barnes She was known for her frankness about dealing with her aggressive bowel cancer, which she shared on the BBC Radio 5 Live show You, Me And The Big C. She described Mr Bowen as a 'very eligible bachelor' and knew he would attract a lot of female attention after her death. She said: 'I have given him strict instructions: I want him to move on. He's a handsome man, I'm like, 'Don't be taken for a ride, don't marry a bimbo, find someone else who can make you laugh like we did.' She also joked there were a couple of people she didn't want him to hook up with and if he did, 'I would do my damned hardest to haunt him'. Mr Bowen works as a banker for private equity firm Pomona Capital. He met his wife, with whom he had two children, in 2005 and they married three years later. In 2023, her mother Heather said: 'Deborah will be a hard act to follow, but he has our blessing.'
The Independent
01-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Spreading awareness is Dame Deborah's ‘legacy', says her mother
Deborah James left an 'amazing legacy' of encouraging young people to 'talk about their poo', her mother has said. Heather James said her daughter was a 'force of nature' and praised her efforts in spreading awareness of bowel cancer and its symptoms, particularly among young people. 'It does affect young people as we know,' Mrs James said. Dame Deborah died of bowel cancer aged 40 in 2022. Earlier this month, her daughter Eloise followed in her mother's footsteps by raising awareness of bowel cancer through a new campaign. 'If we can get teenagers talking about their poo, that's an amazing legacy Deborah has left,' Mrs James added. On Wednesday, the King repeated some of Dame Deborah's final words at a reception at Buckingham Palace. Charles hailed the late Dame Deborah as an inspiration, quoting her final message and encouraging everyone to follow her example: 'Find a life worth enjoying; take risks; love deeply; have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hope.' Her father Alistair James told BBC Breakfast: 'It just brought back so many memories – we remember those words being written with her in her last few days at home.' Mrs James added: 'It was wonderful to hear the King actually quoting Deborah's words, it was such an honour. 'He (said) wished he had met her, she was obviously a force of nature and I said: 'Yes she definitely was'.' She added: 'It's the club we belong to that no one really wants to belong to – whether you are royalty or not, cancer affects many, many people, it's almost a leveller in one way.' Mr James said that the pair thanked the King for sharing his own cancer journey. Asked about Dame Deborah's legacy, Mr James said: 'We'll just keep going with the rest of the family and Cancer Research UK (CRUK). 'Every decision – of how we're raising money or how we are investing it and spending it – all those final decisions are always made by the family and we all get together as a group, with CRUK. 'And the children understand what's going on as well with it. 'Eloise took part in one of the bowel cancer campaigns this month for the first time and she was very enthusiastic about spreading the word.' Dame Deborah's Bowelbabe fund has raised more than £16 million since it was launched.
