Ann Widdecombe's loved ones gather for her funeral

About 100 family, friends and colleagues attended the funeral of former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe at Buckfast Abbey in Devon. Widdecombe, who was 78 when she died on July 8th, was found with head injuries at her home on Dartmoor. Mourners, wearing black, gathered at the Requiem Mass which lasted around 90 minutes. The service took place at the abbey, which she referred to as her "safe haven".

The Rt Rev David Charlesworth, Abbot of Buckfast, delivered a homily during the service, praying for her soul and thanking her for her fortitude. The Abbey Church described her as a woman of profound faith, a Roman Catholic who expressed her convictions in politics. Widdecombe's nephew and a close friend also paid tributes. A public memorial is planned for later this year, with donations to charity going to the Leprosy Mission and Abound, supporting projects in India.

Widdecombe's political career included serving as Conservative MP for Maidstone for 23 years and a minister in Sir John Major's government. After leaving Parliament, she participated in reality shows and served as a Member of the European Parliament for the Brexit Party, later joining Reform UK as a spokeswoman. Joshua Kerry, a 28-year-old man from South Yorkshire, has been charged with her murder, with a provisional trial date set for June 2027.