GB News presenter Andrew Pierce struggled to hold back tears as he reported live from the funeral of Ann Widdecombe at Buckfast Abbey in Devon on Wednesday. About 100 family, friends and colleagues attended the requiem mass for the former Tory minister, who died on July 8 aged 78.
Emotional live broadcast
The live broadcast was halted as Andrew shared an update with viewers, saying he was "struggling to hold back tears" at the emotional ceremony. Speaking on GB News, he began: "It's been a remarkably emotional day as you can imagine. The family wanted it to just be family and friends. It was a requiem mass at Buckfast Abbey. Most Sundays, she would be here at mass. Very close to her home at Widdecombe's rest on Dartmoor where she met that terrible death."
Andrew continued: "Her nephew, Roger, a Church of England vicar spoke for many when he said, 'none of us can understand the nature of the death. None of us can digest the shock of what happened.' Of course we can't." He added, "I was struggling to hold the tears back."
Tributes and memorial
A statement from the Abbey Church earlier said Ann would be "missed and fondly remembered" and "many in our worshipping community knew her as a kind and warm character". It added: "Ann was a woman of profound faith, a faith which found expression in the public forum of politics. Ann was unafraid to express her unwavering convictions, formed through her Roman Catholic faith. She had a sharp intellect and was a dedicated public servant."
The order of service also included tributes paid by the Rev Roger Widdecombe, Widdecombe's nephew, and Sir Christian Sweeting, a close friend. A public memorial for Ann is due to be held later this year.
