𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Ann Widdecombe was laid to rest at Buckfast Abbey on Wednesday after being killed in her own home last month. The former Conservative MP and Reform UK spokeswoman’s body rested overnight in the religious building, as is catholic tradition, before the private service attended by friends and family. 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. The abbey’s organ and 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. Police swarmed the abbey grounds that morning, conducting an extensive search of bushes, bins, flower beds and drainage.

A sniffer dog was also deployed.

Police had to assign rucksacks to members of the media.

Broadcaster Iain Dale, Conservative Shadow Chancellor, Sir Mel Stride, former Tory MP, Crispin Blunt, and journalist Andrew Piece were part of the congregation.

Mr Pierce, who knew Ann for more than 30 years, told The Express that it was “an incredibly sad day” and his friend “never hesitated to share her strong opinions whether you liked them or not”.

He also described her as “great fun” and “great company”.

But Mr Pierce added that the way her days ended was “appalling”.

“She used to talk to me all the time about how one day she hoped she’d be able to find a house on Dartmoor so she could go walking and read and relax,” he said.

“She never really did relax, did she?”

Ms Widdecombe always wanted her funeral to be at Buckfast Abbey, Mr Pierce said.

The Right Reverend David Charlesworth OSB, Abbot of Buckfast, said in a homily: “In the midst of the shock, clamour and sometimes unwarranted comment surrounding her death, our response is to pray for the repose of her soul, to give thanks for her fortitude, and offer Holy Mass in this Abbey Church which Ann called her safe haven.”

Joshua Kerry, 28, has been charged with Ms Widdecombe’s murder.

She was hit in the head 21 times with a hammer.

Police are also investigating whether Kerry could be linked to an alleged firebomb attack at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s home in 2025.

Mr Dale was driven down to Devon from Scotland by his best friend for the service.

He wrote on his Substack: “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.“

He added: “I do hope Ann’s views on heaven and the afterlife have turned out to be true. I hope I meet her there one day.”