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Tears as Dr Who star David bids final farewell to Mum

Tears were shed as Doctor Who star David Tennant said a last goodbye to his loving mum. The Paisley actor paid an emotional tribute to Helen McDonald at her funeral, telling mourners that she had “made the world a better place.”

Heartbroken David took time out from filming the hit sci-fi series in Wales at the weekend to return home to say a final farewell to Helen after she lost her brave battle with cancer.

He was joined at the funeral service by other members of the family – including his dad, the Very Rev Dr Sandy McDonald – as well as around 600 more people whose lives had been touched by 67-year-old Helen.

Caring charity worker Helen, of Dykebar, Paisley, courageously fought cancer for five years before she passed away on July 15 with David and other family members at her bedside.

David’s tribute came as, together with his sister Karen and brother Blair, he read passages from a Bible which Helen had been given for her 21st birthday, when she attended St George’s Tron Church in Glasgow.

Courageous Helen read sections of that very same Bible every night.

It was at St George’s Tron that Helen and her husband Sandy first met.

During the commemoration, the congregation sang inspirational hymns which had been chosen by Helen.

They included Henry Francis Lyte’s great hymn ‘Praise My Soul, The King of Heaven,’ which extols the eternity of creation and the brevity of human life.

There were tears in the eyes of many mourners during the singing of another of Helen’s favourite hymns – Horatius Bonar’s ‘I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say, Come Unto Me And Rest.’

But there was happiness, too, because Helen didn’t want those who came to celebrate her life to leave the church downcast.

At her own request, the final hymn she chose was ‘You Shall Go Out With Joy And Be Led Forth With Peace.’

As David led his family from their seats in the front pews down the aisle to the vestibule to thank people for coming to the service, Sandy – a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland – clapped his hands and joined the congregation in singing some of Helen’s beloved gospel hymns.

During her life of service to her family and community, Helen – who was highly respected for her charity work – was chair of the Paisley Friends of ACCORD Hospice. She was also a volunteer for Arthritis Care, the WRVS, the Samaritans and elderly care charity Contact.

Full story at Paisley Daily Express.