Danniella Westbrook asks fans to ‘say a little prayer’ ahead of Dame Barbara Windsor’s funeral

Danniella Westbrook took to Twitter to pay tribute to Dame Barbara Windsor in the hours leading up to her private funeral on Friday.

The 47-year-old actress, who portrayed daughter of Barbara’s Peggy Mitchell on EastEnders, shared a snapshot of herself with the beloved star as she urged fans to ‘say a little prayer’ at 2pm, the time the funeral is set to commence.

She wrote: ‘Today at 2pm We say our last good bye to Dame Barbara Windsor. So say a little prayer at 2pm people pls x.’ 

Tribute: Danniella Westbrook took to Twitter to pay tribute to Dame Barbara Windsor in the hours leading up to her private funeral on Friday. Pictured together in 2004

The day after Barbara’s death, Danniella made an appearance on BBC Breakfast  where she spoke about her memories of working with the star.

She said: ‘She was the most feisty, hardworking woman I’ve ever met in my life. I learned everything I know from her work-wise. She taught me how to listen. The woman was phenomenal.

‘She did pages and pages of learning and walked into the Queen Vic and it was like she was always meant to have been there. She raised the game of the whole show.’

Barbara’s work to raise awareness of dementia was praised the Alzheimer’s Society ahead of her funeral.

Prayer: The 47-year-old actress, who portrayed daughter of Barbara's Peggy Mitchell on EastEnders, urged fans to 'say a little prayer' at 2pm, the time the funeral is set to commence

Prayer: The 47-year-old actress, who portrayed daughter of Barbara’s Peggy Mitchell on EastEnders, urged fans to ‘say a little prayer’ at 2pm, the time the funeral is set to commence

In a statement the charity said the actress, who died on December 10 after battling Alzheimer’s for six years, and her husband Scott Mitchell were ‘instrumental’ in raising money for vital research.

Barbara is expected to be cremated at a private ceremony at Golders Green Crematorium in London during the afternoon with a limited number of mourners in line with the  COVID-19 restrictions.

In a statement Kate Lee, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Society paid tribute to Barbara for her ‘brave’ fight against dementia, and her campaigning to raise awareness and vital money for research.

She said: ‘We will be forever grateful to Dame Barbara Windsor and her husband Scott Mitchell for sharing their dementia experience so bravely and publicly raising awareness of what it’s like to live through this devastating disease, for people with dementia and their carers. 

Tribute: Barbara's work to raise awareness of dementia was praised the Alzheimer's Society ahead of her funeral on Friday (pictured in 2017)

Tribute: Barbara’s work to raise awareness of dementia was praised the Alzheimer’s Society ahead of her funeral on Friday (pictured in 2017)

Moving: In a statement the charity said the actress and her husband Scott Mitchell were 'instrumental' in raising money for vital research (pictured in September 2019)

Moving: In a statement the charity said the actress and her husband Scott Mitchell were ‘instrumental’ in raising money for vital research (pictured in September 2019)

‘Both Dame Barbara and Scott were instrumental in putting social care on the map through supporting our Fix Dementia Care campaign and in raising vital funds for dementia research through Dementia Revolution – the most successful Virgin Money London Marathon charity partnership campaign ever.

‘The £4 million raised is powering discoveries at the pioneering Dementia Research Institute which Alzheimer’s Society co-founded – research will beat dementia.

‘Dame Barbara was a truly extraordinary woman, and today our thoughts are with her and Scott’s family and friends and everyone who loved her. 

Sadly, too many are facing dementia alone without adequate support. We urgently need to find a cure, improve care and offer help and understanding for people affected. Alzheimer’s Society is here for anyone affected by dementia.’

Moving: Barbara is expected to be cremated at a private ceremony at Golders Green Crematorium in London during the afternoon with a limited number of mourners

Moving: Barbara is expected to be cremated at a private ceremony at Golders Green Crematorium in London during the afternoon with a limited number of mourners

Barbara’s funeral is expected to take place on Friday afternoon, with only 30 people thought to be in attendance.

Dame Barbara had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014. 

She is survived by her husband Scott Mitchell – with the pair being widely praised for their work raising awareness of dementia after the actress went public with her diagnosis in 2018.

A JustGiving page set up as a tribute to her and in aid of Alzheimer’s Research UK has raised nearly £150,000. 

It was reported in December that Dame Barbara’s memorial would allow ‘everyone to celebrate her life together’, despite the current restrictions.  

Sorely missed: The star, known for her work in the Carry On films and EastEnders, died in December at the age of 83 [pictured in 1963]

Sorely missed: The star, known for her work in the Carry On films and EastEnders, died in December at the age of 83 [pictured in 1963]

Barbara played Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders for more than 20 years, and it is expected her former co-stars will help husband Scott with the memorial.

Actor Christopher Biggins is also expected to conduct a eulogy.

News of the memorial comes after it was revealed Dame Barbara will make posthumous appearances in three new Carry On films

Producers of the iconic franchise are planning to use a hologram of the star in upcoming movies. 

Other late stars of the franchise, like Sid James and Kenneth Williams, are also set to feature in the films. 

Brian said: ‘We want to honour the legacy of producer Peter Rogers. He is the unsung hero of the ‘Carry On’ films.’

Awareness: Barbara and Scott have been widely praised for their work raising awareness of dementia after the actress went public with her diagnosis in 2018

Awareness: Barbara and Scott have been widely praised for their work raising awareness of dementia after the actress went public with her diagnosis in 2018

Carrying on: Barbara is set to make posthumous appearances in three new Carry On films as a hologram [Pictured in 2014]

Carrying on: Barbara is set to make posthumous appearances in three new Carry On films as a hologram [Pictured in 2014]

The late actress appeared in a host of Carry On movies between 1964 and 1974, including Carry On Spying, Carry On Doctor and Carry On Camping. 

Husband Scott described Barbara’s final weeks as ‘typical of how she lived her life’ and ‘full of humour, drama and a fighting spirit until the end’. 

In true icon style, Barbara’s final TV role was starring in her own biopic, which chronicled her humble beginnings in Shoreditch up to 1993, with Jaime Winstone and Samantha Spiro playing the star at different points in her life. 

The BBC film – Babs – was written by EastEnders scriptwriter Tony Jordan and broadcast on May 7, 2017, to coincide with her 80th birthday. 

At the time, the actress said: ‘Tony knows the real me and what makes me tick and I was particularly taken by the way he wants to tell my tale which is not in the way people will expect it to be. I am honoured and excited that Tony and the BBC have commissioned this.’

She first left in 2003 for two years due to a debilitating case of the Epstein-Barr virus, which put her out of action. 

Once she was back to full health, she returned in the middle of 2005 on a one-year contract yet her contract was extended.

Dearly missed: Her husband Scott described Barbara's final weeks as 'typical of how she lived her life' and 'full of humour, drama and a fighting spirit until the end'

Dearly missed: Her husband Scott described Barbara’s final weeks as ‘typical of how she lived her life’ and ‘full of humour, drama and a fighting spirit until the end’

In 2009, Dame Barbara announced she would be leaving the soap again in order to spend more time with her husband Scott, who she married in 2000.

‘It was not the ending that Barbara or anyone else living with this very cruel disease deserve,’ Scott said, following his wife’s death.

‘I will always be immensely proud of Barbara’s courage, dignity and generosity dealing with her own illness and still trying to help others by raising awareness for as long as she could.’

He added: ‘Dementia/Alzheimer’s remains the UKs number one killer. Although in challenging times, I urge the Prime Minister, his government and other parties to be true to their previous promises and invest more into dementia/Alzheimer’s research and care. 

Icon: Dame Barbara is pictured as Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders, 1994. She appeared on the soap from 1991 to 2010, and made several guest appearances before leaving for good in 2016

Icon: Dame Barbara is pictured as Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders, 1994. She appeared on the soap from 1991 to 2010, and made several guest appearances before leaving for good in 2016

‘Thank you to all the doctors, nurses and carers who are angels at the care home for your kindness and care to Barbara and I throughout her stay with you. You are my heroes.

‘And my gratitude to our family, friends and everyone in the media and the general public for all the good wishes and warm support that has been shown to Barbara over the last few years during her illness. Barbara deeply appreciated that.

‘May you rest in peace now my precious Bar. I’ve lost my wife, my best friend and soul mate and my heart or life will never feel the same without you.

‘I will be making no further statements and now need the time to grieve this painful, personal loss.’ 

WHAT IS ALZHEIMER’S?

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, in which build-up of abnormal proteins causes nerve cells to die.

This disrupts the transmitters that carry messages, and causes the brain to shrink. 

More than 5 million people suffer from the disease in the US, where it is the 6th leading cause of death, and more than 1 million Britons have it.

WHAT HAPPENS?

As brain cells die, the functions they provide are lost. 

That includes memory, orientation and the ability to think and reason. 

The progress of the disease is slow and gradual. 

On average, patients live five to seven years after diagnosis, but some may live for ten to 15 years.

EARLY SYMPTOMS:

  • Loss of short-term memory
  • Disorientation
  • Behavioral changes
  • Mood swings
  • Difficulties dealing with money or making a phone call 

LATER SYMPTOMS:

  • Severe memory loss, forgetting close family members, familiar objects or places
  • Becoming anxious and frustrated over inability to make sense of the world, leading to aggressive behavior 
  • Eventually lose ability to walk
  • May have problems eating 
  • The majority will eventually need 24-hour care   

 Source: Alzheimer’s Association