BBC host's friends and family pay tribute at funeral
Friends and family of BBC presenter Rachael Bland paid their respects to her at her funeral yesterday (September 21), and have been sharing their tributes with the hashtag #RaiseAGlassToRach.
The BBC Radio 5 live newsreader sadly passed away earlier this month, at the age of 40, from breast cancer.
Colleagues and friends, including BBC Breakfast's Dan Walker, shared their farewells to Rachael on Twitter, with Dan calling the day "beautiful and brutal", while another said it was a "pitch perfect" service.
Well... that was both beautiful & brutal. Wonderful to meet some of @Rachael_Hodges & @blandsteve’s family and to see so many of her @bbc5live colleagues & friends giving thanks for her incredible life #RaiseAGlassToRach #YouMeBigC pic.twitter.com/tQvXEiMwxh
- Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) September 21, 2018
Memories of the beautiful, brilliant, bold @Rachael_Hodges have pierced through the grey skies today. Rach, here’s to you. And everyone out there, please join us in raising a glass to Rach. #RaiseaglasstoRach #RachaelBland #YouMeBigC pic.twitter.com/ES1Jg5X3Ji
- Rachel Burden (@rachelburden) September 21, 2018
Pitch perfect services and tributes to our friend @Rachael_Hodges today in Cheshire. No such thing as an ordinary life. #RaiseAGlassToRach
- Shelagh Fogarty (@ShelaghFogarty) September 21, 2018
Only one thing matters today #RaiseaglasstoRach #RachaelBland #YouMeBigC @Rachael_Hodges @blandsteve
- Chris Mason (@ChrisMasonBBC) September 21, 2018
Today is all about @Rachael_Hodges.
Fucking love you mate 💔 pic.twitter.com/lWLt9E1mJv- GIRL STOLE LONDON (@GIRLSTOLELONDON) September 21, 2018
Today was tough. We said our goodbyes to our beautiful @Rachael_Hodges - I hope we did you proud. Tonight, please raise a glass to Rach just as she would have wanted. #RaiseAGlassToRach PS. Only Rach would make us do the sunglases thing - On a rainy day in Manchester! @bbc5live pic.twitter.com/RwolqoG1hr
- Deborah James (@bowelbabe) September 21, 2018
Rachael's husband Steve also shared a message online following the funeral service, writing: "Finally having a lie down after a quite extraordinary, emotional day saying goodbye and celebrating the incredible life of my darling @Rachael_Hodges.
"Thank you so very much to everyone who came along and to everyone wherever you are, who did."
Finally having a lie down after a quite extraordinary, emotional day saying goodbye and celebrating the incredible life of my darling @Rachael_Hodges. Thank you so very much to everyone who came along and to everyone wherever you are, who did #RaiseAGlassToRach
- Steve Bland (@blandsteve) September 21, 2018
As well as her work for the BBC, Rachael was also part of a podcast called You, Me and the Big C alongside two other hosts, who are carrying on the show in her stead.
Before she passed away, she revealed how she wants her son to remember her, writing: "If I were to release all my feelings about leaving my precious, beautiful Freddie behind, I wouldn't be able to enjoy the rest of my time on this earth.
"So I tuck them away, graciously accept every little hug, squeeze, cuddle and utterance of 'I love you so much, mummy' and try not to let him see it break my heart."
She also said she was "planning and wrapping birthday presents" for Freddie, which he can open between the ages of 4 and 21.
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