Derek Draper’s remaining outing along with his spouse Kate Garraway was on the wedding ceremony of his former boss Peter Mandelson final October.
The previous political aide, who has died aged 56 following an extended battle with Covid, was seen sitting in a wheelchair subsequent to his spouse as he clasped Lord Mandelson’s hand.
The couple have been amongst high-profile visitors who attended the Labour grandee’s wedding ceremony at Outdated Marylebone City Corridor in London.
Lord Mandelson, 70, tied the knot along with his long-term companion Reinaldo Avila da Silva, 51.
Derek Draper’s remaining outing along with his spouse Kate Garraway was on the wedding ceremony of his former boss Peter Mandelson final October. The previous political aide, who has died aged 56 following an extended battle with Covid, was seen sitting in a wheelchair subsequent to his spouse as he clasped Lord Mandelson’s hand
Mr Draper labored as a researcher for main New Labour determine Lord Mandelson when he was the MP for Hartlepool within the early Nineties.
He went on to develop into a director for lobbying agency GPC Market Entry in 1996 after which arrange New Labour organisation Progress.
It was whereas working at GPC that Mr Draper was caught on tape boasting to an undercover journalist of his authorities connections.
In one of many first sleaze scandals to hit Tony Blair’s fledgling administration, he reportedly claimed: ‘There are 17 individuals who rely on this authorities, and to say I’m intimate with all of them is the understatement of the century.’
Mr Draper went on to develop into a psychotherapist after leaving politics however then grew to become one of many UK’s most high-profile coronavirus victims.
He was admitted to an intensive care unit because the nation entered lockdown in March 2020.
He was positioned in an induced coma and it was not till greater than a 12 months later, in April 2021, that he was capable of return residence to his household.
Nonetheless, he nonetheless required round the clock care and was in completely frail well being.
Derek Draper (circled) is seen standing subsequent to Labour grandees together with Neil Kinnock, John Prescott and Peter Mandelson (proper). The footage was in BBC2’s The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty
Derek and Kate are seen collectively when she starred in I am a Celeb… Get Me Out of Right here! in 2019
Ms Garraway documented her husband’s struggles in an award-winning TV documentary.
She revealed as we speak that he died after struggling a coronary heart assault earlier than Christmas.
The Good Morning Britain star, 56, introduced the passing of her husband on Instagram this morning, and revealed she was holding his hand when he died.
She stated: ‘I am unhappy to must inform you all that my darling husband Derek has handed away.
‘Derek was surrounded by his household in his remaining days and I used to be by his facet holding his hand all through the final lengthy hours and when he handed.
‘I’ve a lot extra to say, and naturally I’ll achieve this in the end, however for now I simply wish to thank all of the medical groups who fought so exhausting to save lots of him and to make his remaining moments as comfy and dignified as potential’.
Ms Garraway and Mr Draper married in 2005 and have two youngsters, Darcey and Billy.