Lynda Bellingham passed away over the weekend at the age of 66, and her husband has spoken out about her death.
Michael Pattemore told Your magazine that the advances stage of Bellingham’s cancer meant that she was unable to die at home as she wished.
“I just want her to be remembered as an actress more than anything--not as a celebrity or one of the Loose Women,” he told the magazine.
“She started her career as an actress and never thought of herself as a celebrity. She’s always been an actress.”
Fighting back tears, he said: “I can tell you now that the words on her gravestone will be ‘The curtain went up on May 31 1948, and the final curtain went down on October 19 2014.’”
In a recent interview before the death he had told the magazine that he hoped that Bellingham would survive until Christmas.
“The past 10 years with Lynda have been the best of my life. She’s so funny when she’s telling her jokes and so genuinely kind, not to mention so talented. And she’s probably one of the most loving mothers I’ve ever seen,” he told the magazine.
On how he plans to carry on after her inevitable passing, he said: “I am the most positive-thinking guy in the world. Unfortunately it doesn’t matter how positive I am on this one, the Good Lord is going to take her.”
Bellingham’s agent Sue Latimer announced the death on Sunday.
“Lynda died peacefully in her husband’s arms yesterday evening at a London hospital. Her family, to whom she was devoted, would like to thank the nurses and staff for their tremendous care and support,” Latimer said.
“As an actor, writer and presenter, Lynda was a consummate professional to the very end. Those of us privileged to have known her personally will miss the entertaining, life-enhancing, true and honest friend that blessed our lives.”
