The Prince of Wales praised the “amazing” Dame Deborah James during an emotional video message at the inaugural Bowelbabe Fund Rebel Ball, held on what would have been the campaigner’s 45th birthday.
William made a surprise appearance in a pre-recorded video message at the gala, recalling: “What struck me was Deborah’s positivity and humour in the face of adversity – what she liked to call ‘rebellious hope’.”
Tribute to a 'rebellious hope' campaigner
He described Dame Deborah, who died in 2022, as “an amazing woman” and said her Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK had achieved so much in the last four-and-a-half years, investing in pioneering research that was “giving more people more time with the ones they love”.
The heir to the throne told guests, including Dame Deborah’s friends and family: “Tonight would have been Deborah’s 45th birthday and I know she would have wanted everyone dancing, celebrating and making memories.”
Ball raises over £316k
The fundraising ball, hosted by TV presenter Gaby Roslin in London, featured performances by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and the West End cast of the production Disco Inferno. The event raised more than £316,000.
Dame Deborah’s husband Sebastien Bowen said: “On what would’ve been Deborah’s 45th birthday, we wanted to honour her memory and the Rebel Ball captured so much of what made her special: her energy, her courage and her ability to bring people together behind a cause she believed in.”
Legacy of the Bowelbabe Fund
The Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK supports cutting-edge research and raises awareness of bowel cancer. It was launched by Dame Deborah in May 2022 with an initial target of £250,000.
The You, Me And The Big C podcast host, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016, was given a damehood for her fundraising efforts, which soared into the millions. The honour was personally conferred by William, who joined her family for afternoon tea and champagne while she was receiving hospice-at-home care, just weeks before she died at the age of 40.
William visits flood-hit village
Earlier in the day, William visited the Welsh village of Skenfrith, which was battered by the River Monnow following Storm Claudia. He said a “holistic” approach is needed to tackle extreme flooding after meeting villagers living with the threat of the upcoming storm season.
The heir sympathised with residents who might be “anxious” about extreme weather events, he said, which were no longer “one in 50-year” occurrences but seemed to be happening every year. Skenfrith has faced four major floods in six years, but the most recent last winter caused the biggest impact there after the River Monnow swept through the village after Storm Claudia brought a month’s rain in 24 hours to parts of England and Wales.
William was visiting the area to learn how communities have been affected by recent flooding and what measures local authorities and other agencies are taking to mitigate future incidents.
