Ann Widdecombe suffered a horrible death and this weighed heavily upon the minds of those who attended her funeral today. The former Conservative MP and Reform UK spokeswoman was killed in her own home last month, being struck in the head 21 times with a hammer.
A Friend's Tribute
Her friend of 30-odd years, journalist Andrew Pierce, told me before the service at Buckfast Abbey, where Ms Widdecombe worshipped, that she suffered an “appalling” end to her days.
Broadcaster Iain Dale wrote before he arrived at the service: “I don’t normally cry at funerals, but I am fully expecting to be in floods of tears at this one, staring at the coffin which will contain poor Ann’s battered body. I think that’s when it will really hit me.”
But Mr Pierce, with a smile on his face, also said of the firebrand politician that she “never hesitated to share her strong opinions, whether you liked them or not”, and was “great fun” and “great company”. This I have been told over and over again when speaking with people who knew Ann since her death. It is why she garnered many pals who held her in very high esteem.
A Peaceful Setting
Watching on as a stream of solemn, darkly-clad friends and family emerged from the abbey, it was clear that she had touched and enriched many lives.
The one thing that will stay with me is the peacefulness of the day, compared to the brutal nature of her death.
The abbey rose above the surrounding ancient village with hills in the background, more golden than usual due to a drought that has hit most of England. Sunbeams drenched the rural landscape. A cat flitted in and out of view in between bins. Birdsong filled the air and tourists leisurely milled about the place.
The Service and Security
Mourners singing “Amazing Grace” could be heard from outside the building as the service got underway at around 2pm. A breeze rustled the leaves of trees below a cloudless, blue sky.
After around one and a half hours, the doors opened and candles and a Gregorian chant accompanied Ms Widdecombe’s coffin as it emerged. On top were light blue, purple, pink and yellow flowers. A number of members of the public watched on.
But that morning the police had swarmed the abbey grounds, conducting an extensive search of bushes, bins, flower beds and drainage. A sniffer dog was also deployed. Officers had to assign rucksacks to members of the media, and some continued to patrol after the requiem mass had started. At least one carried a Taser. Clearly, the authorities were taking no chances.
It reminded me of the violent acts committed at funerals during the Troubles on the island of Ireland, and served as a reminder of the sinister backdrop to today’s event.
