Television presenter Richard Whiteley will be among hundreds of mourners expected to attend his sister's funeral service at Bradford Cathedral tomorrow afternoon.

Helen Stewart died on Saturday, aged 49, after an eight-month fight against cancer and her family is asking for donations to be made in her memory to the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity in lieu of flowers.

The money will go to the charity's Bradford appeal, whose chairman is Mrs Stewart's sister-in-law, Christine Hamilton Stewart. She was married to Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's consultant urologist Peter Hamilton Stewart, whose late father Henry - also a BRI surgeon - was made a Freeman of the City of Bradford in 1969.

Richard Whiteley, host of Channel 4's popular Countdown quiz show, said the Marie Curie donation would be a fitting tribute to the former Bradford Girls Grammar School pupil, who was born in Baildon and worked for many years as a ward clerk at Bingley's Yorkshire Clinic.

He said: "We thought the charity was absolutely appropriate because Helen died of cancer and although she didn't have to avail herself of the Marie Curie services, many people in that position do.

"She comes from an old Bradford family and on her husband's side there's a great history of services to the medical profession in the city so it's entirely appropriate that the funeral service should be held in the cathedral.''

Mr Whiteley added: "Helen's illness was diagnosed last summer but very bravely she carried on as usual and was her normal, radiant and sparky self.

"It was very difficult for people to know she was suffering this life sentence as she didn't let it be known she was in trouble - and was radiant and on the ball right up until the last 24 hours.''

Christine Hamilton Stewart said: "The family felt giving the money to Marie Curie would provide a more lasting tribute to Helen's memory.''

Mrs Stewart, a former medical secretary who lived at Chellow Dene, leaves her barrister husband James Stewart QC, daughter Alexandra, who is also a barrister, and daughter Georgina, a student at Cambridge University.

Her mother, Margaret, is widow of the late Kenneth Whiteley who ran Eccleshill's Thomas Whiteley and Co textile mill which closed in the early 1960s.

Tomorrow's service, which begins at 1pm, will be followed by a private cremation.

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