SUSANNA Reid, Elton John and Piers Morgan were among the celebrities who paid tribute to Kate Garraway’s husband Derek Draper today.
A distraught Kate arrived at Derek’s funeral in north-west London with her two children, Darcey and Billy, four weeks after he died aged 56 following an almost four-year battle with Covid.
38
Kate Garraway gathered with friends and family today for her husband Derek Draper’s funeral
38
Kate arrived with their two children Darcey and Billy
38
On Friday, Kate visited the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Primrose Hill, north-west London
38
Susanna Reid attended Derek’s funeral at St Mary the Virgin Church of Merit: Getty
38
An emotional Ben Shephard arriving at the funeral in London
38
Former GMB presenter Piers Morgan was there Credit: LNP
38
Music icon, 76, Elton John and his husband David Furnish attended
38
Order of Service for Derek’s Funeral Credit: Dan Charity
38
Flowers and cards adorned Derek’s coffin Credit: Dan Charity – The Sun
38
Derek’s last photo was taken in October with Kate by his side as they celebrated the wedding of his former boss Peter MandelsonCredit: Joshua Bratt for The Times
38
Previously Derek and Kate were snapped after she received an MBE in June Credit: Getty
38
The couple married in Camden, London in September 2005
38
Kate was praised for her documentary – Caring For DerekCredit: ITV
Daughter Darcey, 17, showed bravery as she helped carry her father’s coffin into the church where Kate and Derek married almost 20 years ago.
Good Morning Britain stars Charlotte Hawkins, Ben Shephard, Richard Madeley, Alex Beresford, Rob Rinder, Ranvir Singh, Sean Fletcher and Richard Arnold visited St Mary the Virgin Church in Primrose Hill.
Reid and Shephard, who work alongside Garraway as presenters on GMB, wore black when they appeared.
TV presenter Fiona Phillips and This Morning editor Martin Frizell, who both worked on former ITV morning show GMTV, and former GMB star Morgan were also spotted.
Meanwhile, music icon Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish showed their support on Friday.
The musician previously invited Draper and Garraway to be his guests of honor at last year’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road concert at London’s O2 Arena.
Former Labor MPs Ed Balls, Lord Peter Mandelson and Tristram Hunt also attended the service.
Shadow climate change secretary Ed Miliband, former prime minister Sir Tony Blair and his wife Cherie Blair and former No 10 communications director Alastair Campbell could also be seen.
Draper was a former researcher to Lord Mandelson and was a key figure in the early years of New Labor in the 1990s.
Draper founded the organization Progress with Liam Byrne, who later became a Labor MP and was also a writer.
He wrote the book Blair’s Hundred Days which chronicles some of Sir Tony’s early years as Prime Minister, along with Life Support: A Survival Guide For The Modern Soul.
Journalist Robert Peston, talent manager Jonathan Shalit, radio presenter Roman Kemp, former Sky News political editor Adam Boulton and former GMTV political editor and former Labor MP Gloria De Piero also headed to the church.
Myleene Klass, who previously stepped in as host of Garraway’s Smooth Radio show, was among the mourners.
Rest in peace now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.
Hosted by Kate GarrawayGMB
TV star Kate recently put on a brave face in a photo for the first time since Derek’s death.
The GMB presenter, 56, managed to smile as her friend hugged her.
A source said Kate was “stoically trying to hold things together” for the sake of her and Derek’s two children.
They added: “She was an absolute rock.
“Organizing the funeral is long and painful, but the day will be a joyous celebration of a wonderful man.”
The presenter’s husband tragically died holding her hand after a four-year health battle brought on by Covid.
Kate adapted the family home to make it more accessible and easier for Derek to get around – spending countless hours by her husband’s side supporting him.
But unfortunately, Derek was taken to the hospital late last year when he had a heart attack.
Strong Kate Garraway then made a desperate 12-hour flight to the UK with her husband in an attempt to save his life.
Despite all the efforts and support, Kate revealed the heartbreaking news of Derek’s death on Instagram.
In an emotional statement, she said: “I am saddened to tell you all that my dear husband Derek has passed away.
“As some of you may know, he was critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December, which, due to the damage caused by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications.
“Derek was surrounded by his family in his last days and I was by his side holding his hand during the last long hours and when he passed away.
“I have a lot more to say and of course I will in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and make his last moments as comfortable and dignified as possible.
We are taking time to heal, now that Darcey and Billy know their dad is at peace and free of pain and struggle.
Kate Garraway
“Sending lots of love and gratitude to all of you who have so generously given our family so much support.
“Rest gently and peacefully, Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life.”
Just days after his death, Kate shared a touching tribute to Derek on GMB.
In a statement, Kate said: “Hello everyone. Thank you so much for all the wonderful messages you have sent me.
“It really means a lot to me, Darcey, Billy and all of Derek’s family.”
She added: “We need time to heal, now that Darcey and Billy know their dad is at peace and free of pain and struggle.”
38
Hosts Richard Arnold and Charlotte Hawkins were in attendance
38
Former Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Ed Balls Credit: Dan Charity
38
Myleene Klass attends Derek’s funeral Credit: Getty
38
Labor Party Leader Keir Starmer
38
Robert Rinder MBE, known as Judge Rinder
38
ITV presenter, 67, Richard Madeley
38
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie
38
Laura Tobin and Alex Beresford at the funeral Credit: Alamy
38
Ranvir Singh leaving Derek’s funeral Credit: Getty
38
Radio presenter and TV personality Roman Kemp
38
Boris Johnson’s younger brother – Conservative MP JoCredit: Getty
38
Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero Ed MilibandCredit: PA
38
Former No 10 Communications Director Alastair Campbell Credits: PA
38
Kevin Lygo, Managing Director of ITV and Dame Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive of ITV Credit: LNP
38
TV presenter Fiona Phillips and This Morning editor Martin FrizellCredit: PA
38
Kate leaves her husband Derek’s funeral serviceCredit: PA
38
Family and friends leave the church after the funeralCredit: Splash
38
Derek with children Darcey and Billy in 2019. Credit: Rex
38
Derek suffered catastrophic health problems after contracting Covid 2020. Credit: ITV
38
Kate recently put on a brave face as she was photographed for the first time since Derek’s deathCredit: Splash
38
Kate’s documentaries showed her extreme devotion to DerekCredit: ITV
38
Kate announced his death on Instagram Credit: Instagram
38
Morgan seen leaving the Church of St. Mary the Virgin
38
Daughter Darcey, 17, helped carry Derek’s coffin out of the church
38
Sir Elton was helped down the steps at the entrance after the service
Derek Draper’s four-year health battle
- March 30, 2020: Derek is rushed unresponsive to hospital with Covid.
- April 24: He was put into an induced coma.
- June 5: Kate reveals that Derek is free of Covid, but his body has suffered damage.
- July 5: Awakens from a deep coma, but remains “minimally conscious.”
- September 6: Kate then reveals that Derek has lost eight stone and is unable to speak.
- September 29: Derek becomes the longest-suffering Covid patient after spending 184 days in hospital.
- October 30: Wakes up from a coma and speaks for the first time in seven months.
- October 31: He is finally taken off the ventilator after 214 days in the hospital.
- 7 January 2021: Kate reveals that the children got to visit Derek for Christmas – the first time since he was in hospital.
- April 9: Derek returns home after more than a year, but needs round-the-clock care.
- May 4: He can talk more.
- December 22: Photographed in public for the first time on panto.
- February 21, 2022: Kate says they secretly flew to Mexico for a medical.
- July 6: Derek is rushed back to the hospital.
- August 1: He is in intensive care with “life-threatening” sepsis.
- 28 June 2023: Sees wife Kate made an MBE.
- October 8: Kate reveals that Derek is “not feeling well” after the infection.
- November 23: In the hospital for mobility assistance.
- December 11: He fell ill and suffered a heart attack.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education