About 100 mourners gathered at Buckfast Abbey in Devon to bid farewell to former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe, who was killed in her home last month. The guest list included politicians, broadcasters, and - because no funeral in 2023 is complete without them - police officers and sniffer dogs patrolling the grounds.

The 90-minute requiem mass at the abbey Widdecombe called her 'safe haven' was a private affair, with the Rt Rev David Charlesworth, the abbot of Buckfast, offering a homily that acknowledged the 'shock, clamour and sometimes unwarranted comment' surrounding her death. He prayed for her soul and gave thanks for her fortitude, which is a classier way of saying 'she was a tough old bird' than we'd manage.

Notably absent was Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who apparently skipped the funeral to avoid being a distraction. Because nothing distracts from a hammer murder like a man who once pretended to be a fish on live TV. He's expected at a public memorial later this year.

Among those in attendance were shadow chancellor Mel Stride, former Conservative justice minister Crispin Blunt, and broadcaster Iain Dale. The order of service included tributes from Widdecombe's nephew, the Rev Roger Widdecombe, and close friend Christian Sweeting.

Widdecombe, 78, died on 8 July after being struck 21 times with a hammer at her home in Haytor. Joshua Kerry, 28, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was charged with her murder on 20 July. The abbey described her as a woman of 'profound faith' with a 'sharp intellect' and 'unwavering convictions' - which is diplomatic for 'she once danced the tango on national television.'

Donations in her memory will support the Leprosy Mission and Abound, which backs projects at the Christian Endeavour Hostel in India. A fitting legacy for a woman who started as a Conservative MP for Maidstone in 1987, became a prisons minister in the 1990s, later served as a Brexit party MEP, and was a Reform UK spokesperson on immigration and justice at the time of her death. She also graced our screens on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother, proving that public service comes in many forms.