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Lyrics 'helped Jill Saward' with rape trauma | Lyrics 'helped Jill Saward' with rape trauma |
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The husband of rape campaigner Jill Saward said he sang to her in her final hours words which helped her "overcome the trauma" of her 1986 attack. | The husband of rape campaigner Jill Saward said he sang to her in her final hours words which helped her "overcome the trauma" of her 1986 attack. |
Ms Saward, 51, who became a victims' right campaigner after being raped in the Ealing vicarage attack, died after suffering a stroke earlier this month. | Ms Saward, 51, who became a victims' right campaigner after being raped in the Ealing vicarage attack, died after suffering a stroke earlier this month. |
Her husband Gavin Drake and Ms Saward's twin sister sang lyrics to "Bread of life; all things new" at her bedside. | Her husband Gavin Drake and Ms Saward's twin sister sang lyrics to "Bread of life; all things new" at her bedside. |
He paid tribute to his wife before her funeral at Lichfield Cathedral. | He paid tribute to his wife before her funeral at Lichfield Cathedral. |
Ms Saward, who was the first woman in the UK to waive her right to anonymity following rape, had lived in Hednesford, Staffordshire. | Ms Saward, who was the first woman in the UK to waive her right to anonymity following rape, had lived in Hednesford, Staffordshire. |
Mr Drake's written tribute told how Ms Saward wrote in her memoir that she heard the song by Garth Hewitt at a Christian festival and remembered it the evening after being raped by intruders who broke into her father's vicarage when she was 21. | Mr Drake's written tribute told how Ms Saward wrote in her memoir that she heard the song by Garth Hewitt at a Christian festival and remembered it the evening after being raped by intruders who broke into her father's vicarage when she was 21. |
She wrote she "cannot stop my mind going back to that terrible hour. The violence of the attack", but the song's chorus helped her "think of something more positive". | She wrote she "cannot stop my mind going back to that terrible hour. The violence of the attack", but the song's chorus helped her "think of something more positive". |
More tributes, plus other Staffordshire news | |
The Liverpool-born campaigner said she had "sung the words quietly to myself" every morning, believing "I will be made new. It says all things". | The Liverpool-born campaigner said she had "sung the words quietly to myself" every morning, believing "I will be made new. It says all things". |
Mr Drake, a journalist, said the song had remained important to his wife, and would be sung at her funeral. | Mr Drake, a journalist, said the song had remained important to his wife, and would be sung at her funeral. |
"The pain of losing Jill has been hard. And is hard. I think that I am too numb to really know what I am feeling," he wrote. | "The pain of losing Jill has been hard. And is hard. I think that I am too numb to really know what I am feeling," he wrote. |
Mr Drake added the couple were "very proud" of their three sons Myles, Rory and Fergus who had shown "incredible courage and strength". | Mr Drake added the couple were "very proud" of their three sons Myles, Rory and Fergus who had shown "incredible courage and strength". |
'Saved lives' | 'Saved lives' |
He told how the couple had often been away from each other through work but "whenever I have been away from Jill, I have never been apart from Jill. That is, until now." | He told how the couple had often been away from each other through work but "whenever I have been away from Jill, I have never been apart from Jill. That is, until now." |
Her family invited "all those who knew and loved Jill" to pay their respects at the cathedral service. | Her family invited "all those who knew and loved Jill" to pay their respects at the cathedral service. |
In his homily, Rev Prebendary Gary Piper praised Ms Saward's enduring courage and strength and how she "campaigned successfully to bring about changes in the law where rape cases are concerned". | In his homily, Rev Prebendary Gary Piper praised Ms Saward's enduring courage and strength and how she "campaigned successfully to bring about changes in the law where rape cases are concerned". |
"In addition to this she gave comfort, help and advice to literally hundreds of women who had been victims of violence and abuse," he said. | "In addition to this she gave comfort, help and advice to literally hundreds of women who had been victims of violence and abuse," he said. |
"In so doing she saved a number of lives." | "In so doing she saved a number of lives." |
Rev Piper, who knew Ms Saward for more than 40 years, said he would remember her sense of humour and for bringing "a smile and a giggle.". | Rev Piper, who knew Ms Saward for more than 40 years, said he would remember her sense of humour and for bringing "a smile and a giggle.". |
Mr Drake said his wife's remains would be interred at Nefyn, Gwynedd, north Wales, which she had loved. | Mr Drake said his wife's remains would be interred at Nefyn, Gwynedd, north Wales, which she had loved. |