Warwick Davis makes first public appearance since wife's death as he speaks out on loss

Warwick Davis has bravely stepped back into the public eye for the first time since the heart-wrenching loss of his wife, Samantha, who died six weeks ago.

The esteemed actor, known for his iconic roles in both the Harry Potter and Star Wars sagas, attended a poignant "reflection evening" at St Barnabas Hospice last Thursday.

At 54 years old, Warwick Davis honoured his commitment as a patron to the hospice by supporting their latest initiative, the Feathers from Above appeal. This campaign features an installation of 1,000 handcrafted feathers, providing a unique opportunity for individuals to commemorate loved ones they have lost.

St Barnabas Hospice, renowned for delivering compassionate palliative and end-of-life care to adults with life-limiting or terminal illnesses, promotes the feather purchase as a means to sustain its vital services. These services reach over 12,000 patients and their families each year.

The event, held at the serene Aubourn Hall and Gardens in Lincolnshire, was also a family affair for Warwick, who was accompanied by his children Annabelle Davis, aged 27, and Harrison Davis, 21. Images capturing this touching family moment have since circulated on Instagram.

In a statement released by the charity and attributed to Warwick Davis, he touched upon the profound impact of bereavement: "The loss of a loved one is, sadly, something many of us will endure in our lifetime.", reports the Mirror.

"Feathers have long been considered spiritual signs that our deceased loved ones are near, and to honour that, St Barnabas has created 'Feathers from Above'. By reserving one, you are not only helping to fund the essential hospice care St Barnabas provides but also acknowledging and creating a lasting legacy for your loved one."

Annabelle posted about the experience on her Instagram account, sharing a photo of herself beside Warwick and Harrison. She wrote alongside it: "It was an honour to watch the #FeathersFromAbove take flight for @stbarnabashospice."

She added: "A beautiful way to remember those we've lost whilst supporting the incredible work they do."

Annabelle, who is an actor herself, concluded with a link to the appeal and encouraged her fans to dedicate feathers themselves.

The family's appearance at the event comes just weeks after it was announced that Samantha had passed away, aged 53. Warwick paid tribute at the time, describing her as his "most trusted confidant" and "an ardent supporter of everything" that he did in his career.

He added: "She was a unique character, always seeing the sunny side of life she had a wicked sense of humour and always laughed at my bad jokes."

A fundraiser for the charity Little People UK, co-founded by Warwick and Samantha, which provides support to people with dwarfism, has been established in her memory. Over £23,000 has been donated through JustGiving.