Dame Barbara Windsor's husband pays tribute to his late wife at awards ceremony
He's spoken out after she sadly passed away last week ❤️
Last updated 18th Dec 2020
Scott Mitchell has paid tribute to his late wife Dame Barbara Windsor after she passed away last week. Dame Barbara died last Friday after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2014, something she campaigned for awareness over with Scott.
He appeared on Good Morning Britain's 1 Million Minutes Awards, which was hosted as a virtual ceremony, sending in a heartfelt video message to Nassrat Bi, the recipient of the Dame Barbara Windsor Award.
Scott said, "I was involved in this year’s judging, as I was last year, and I think when it came to you and your story nothing could have been more poignant for me at that moment because I know you assist people going through palliative care and their families. And that’s exactly what was happening to Barbara and that was exactly what was happening to me.
"I read your story and the compassion and selflessness that carers like yourself show is beyond measurable, as far as I’m concerned. It’s incredible and I don’t think there are great enough words for you. I know what it takes, now, to sit next to someone at the end of life and just have comforting reassuring words coming from the carers.
"To watch your loved one be comforted and be cared for and the relief that gives you and the support to the family, you will never know what it means to loved ones to be a part of that process and to be included and cared for as well as the person who is coming to the end of their life with the disease.
"I don’t know what to say to you apart from 'thank you' for your courage and your compassion. I know Barbara would have adored someone with those qualities and I can’t believe only a week ago she was still here and now she’s not. There’s the circle of life. I don’t think I can still believe it to be honest with you."
Scott added, "I want to tell you one other thing about your story, which gave me the courage today to do this video for you. That’s when I was first asked, I said I thought I would be too emotional, in too much of a state to be able to do it.
"I remember the part of your story where your own Dad had passed away from Covid, and my condolences to you, and after a very short time off you insisted on going straight back to work, to care for other people and to care for their families and I don’t think there is a more noble quality or act than that.
"I’m sending you all my love and thanks for everything you do, for what all you carers do. So God bless and thank you and congratulations and please keep doing the work you do because without people like yourself Nassrat we would be very lonely and scared in our time of need."
Nassrat, who has been with Bluebird Care Birmingham East and North for two and a half years, said, "It’s a bittersweet moment. I would like to offer my condolences to Dame Barbara Windsors’ family and friends, who have lost a special one.
"Dame Barbara Windsor was an icon who worked tirelessly to highlight and bring forward awareness of dementia in the elderly. I’m lost for words."
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Her husband Scott said, "Her passing was from Alzheimer's/dementia and Barbara eventually died peacefully and I spent the last seven days by her side.
"Myself, her family and friends will remember Barbara with love, a smile and affection for the many years of her love, fun, friendship and brightness she brought to all our lives and the entertainment she gave to so many thousands of others during her career.
"Barbara's final weeks were typical of how she lived her life. Full of humour, drama and a fighting spirit until the end.
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Scott announced the sad news of Barbara's death last Friday. She died at 8.35pm on Thursday at a London care home, and Scott said her final weeks were "typical of how she lived her life'' and full of humour, drama and a fighting spirit until the end''.
Our thoughts are with Scott and Barbara's family and friends.
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Dame Barbara Windsor dies aged 83
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