In the latest episode of On the Marie Curie Couch, bereavement expert Jason Davidson meets singer Claire Richards.
Singer and songwriter Claire Richards made her name in the 90s as one-fifth of pop sensation, Steps. After the band parted ways in 2001, Claire formed a duo with former bandmate H, and more recently has also enjoyed solo success with a top 10 album.
In this episode of On the Marie Curie Couch, recording in lockdown via video call, Claire opens up about the death of her Auntie Pauline, who died of lung cancer in 2004. She describes how losing Pauline marked a domino effect in her life, as unresolved issues surfaced at once.
Everything happens for a reason
“It’s events like [Pauline’s death] that have happened through my life that make me believe everything happens for a reason,” says Claire. “The year she was ill I should’ve been doing a solo album and, for whatever reason, it didn’t happen.
“So I was there every single day that I needed to be there. If it had happened a year before, I wouldn’t have been. So everything happens for a reason, one way or another, and at some point we find out what that reason is.”
A wicked sense of humour
“She had a wicked sense of humour,” says Claire. “She kept saying that she wanted the song Take My Breath Away by Berlin for her funeral.”
"That’s the song that was playing when we walked into the crematorium. Take My Breath Away. She wanted it and she got it.”
Listen now
Tap the link near the top of this page to listen to Claire’s chat with Jason. Alternatively, listen to or download it via Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd prefer, you can read a full transcript of the episode.
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Content note: discussion of death and grief with reference to themes/topics that might be triggering or upsetting.
