'Completely heartbroken' Gary Barlow and wife Dawn plan 'beautiful funeral' for stillborn daughter Poppy
By SARA NATHAN
7 August 2012Take That star Gary Barlow and his wife Dawn last night spoke of their devastation at losing their fourth child, a daughter they had named Poppy.
Mrs Barlow, 42, a former dancer, went into labour on Saturday, but Poppy was delivered stillborn.
In a statement last night, X Factor judge Barlow, 41, said: ‘Dawn and I are devastated to announce that we’ve lost our baby.
‘Poppy Barlow was delivered stillborn on August 4 in London. Our focus now is giving her a beautiful funeral and loving our three children with all our hearts. We’d ask at this painful time that our privacy be respected.’
The couple are parents to Daniel, 11, Emily, nine, and three-year-old Daisy.
Last night, a close friend told the Mail: ‘Gary and Dawn are just heartbroken. This is completely senseless. They just want time to grieve now and be with their children.’
Composer Lord Lloyd-Webber, who worked with Barlow to compose the official diamond jubilee
song, tweeted last night: ‘Dearest Dawn & Gary, Madeleine & I are devastated about news of Poppy. Our thoughts & prayers are with you and your family.’
A spokesman for Barlow said it was ‘too early’ to comment on whether he would perform at the Olympics closing ceremony on Sunday.
Barlow had been so keen to spend time with his 42-year-old wife and new child that he had made sure he would not travel far to film the ‘judges’ houses’ segment for the X Factor.Last year, he had travelled to Los Angeles to pick his final hopefuls for the ITV show, but this year had opted for Europe.
A show source said: ‘Gary had been adamant that he didn’t want to spend too much time apart from Dawn and the new baby.’
Another bandmate, Robbie Williams, is also expecting a baby girl with wife Ayda Field.
Mrs Barlow was days away from giving birth, and at 40 weeks pregnant had carried the baby full term.
Friends and colleagues of her husband expressed their condolences to the family on Twitter.
Fellow X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos wrote: ‘My thoughts & prayers are with @GBarlowOfficial and wife dawn tonight. Heartbreaking x.”
A message from boy band JLS, who found fame on X Factor, read: ‘We send our condolences to @GBarlowOfficial and his family during this tough time. Our thoughts and prayers with you. Marv and the boys x.’
Amelia Lily, who appeared on last year’s series – Barlow’s first as a judge – wrote: ‘Sending all my love out to @GBarlowOfficial and family xxx.’
Una Healy, of the girl group The Saturdays and who recently became a mother for the first time, wrote: ‘My thoughts and prayers go out to @GBarlowOfficial and his wife and family such sad news RIP Poppy x.’
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