07 December 2023 , 19:00
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Former judge of The Great British Bake Off Dame Mary Berry has spoken candidly of the heartbreak she endured after losing her third child William, and the 'comfort' she finds in her strong religious faith.
Mary, 88, who has two other children, Thomas and Annabelle, has opened up about living with William's absence and wondering about the sort of person he would have become had he lived.
Bristol University student William was just 19 years old when he died in a tragic car accident in 1989 while back home for the weekend. Having borrowed father Paul's car, William went too fast around a corner and lost his life, while sister Annabelle thankfully escaped without any injuries.
Mary's youngest son William was just 19 years old when he died (Hart/Evening News/REX/Shutterstock)During an interview with the Mail Online, Bath-born Mary shared the agonising moment she had to tell her other son Thomas that his brother was gone. She recalled: "I remember when we told Thomas that William had died. He said, 'But Mum, we had so much to do'. That's his sadness. It stays with you."
Mary also spoke of how she and her family continue to keep William's memory alive during special moments, revealing: "Every occasion we can we drink to Will. And you wonder what would have been. I still think of him as 19. He would be 53 now. Who would he be?
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"Still, after all these years, his Bristol friends put flowers and notes at Penn church [the family lived in Penn, Buckinghamshire for more than 40 years]. It's lovely. I think he had an effect on his friends. I hope it made them drive more carefully."
Mary and her family still raise a glass to William on special occasions (BBC)A regular churchgoer, grandmother-of-five Mary finds great comfort in her faith. When asked whether she believes she will see her son again in the afterlife, she replied: "Oh, yes! I think so. Absolutely. I hope so. There is a comfort in that."
After six decades in the culinary world, hardworking Mary shows no sign of slowing down just yet, and has recently released a new cookbook Mary Makes It Easy, described as the 'new ultimate stress-free cookbook'.
‘Mary Makes It Easy’ by Mary Berry is available to purchase now (BBC Books, £28)
If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or visit their site to find your local branch