Edith Bowman has made a plea for the return of a stolen suitcase containing an item with her grandfather’s ashes.
The TV and radio presenter, 52, was visibly choked up explaining the significance of what had been taken after she realised she was missing both material items and something of immense sentimental value.
Taking to her Instagram Stories on Friday, Edith was initially more annoyed than anything, before a second update revealed that it had dawned on her what was now missing.
Calling it ‘not the day I was hoping for, to be honest’, the podcast host said that she’d been on the 9.32am service to Cheltenham from London Paddington.
But when she alighted at Kemble she realised her case had been stolen from the train.
‘So if you are that person who took someone else’s luggage off the train between London and Kemble, please kindly return it to the nearest station,’ she continued, adding that the British Transport Police had been informed as well, and were looking at CCTV.
But minutes later, after getting into her car, an upset Edith returned in a second video where she was visibly trying to hold back tears.
‘I’ve just realised what’s in my bag,’ she began, before having to pause and compose herself.
‘In my bag is a jewellery box, and in that jewellery box are some really lovely personal things and in particular a pinkie ring that’s got my grandad’s ashes in it,’ she explained.
‘So if anyone saw someone getting off the train either at Didcot Parkway, Reading or Swindon with an old-school case that’s dark green with brown straps around it, please can you get in touch and let me know? Between, like, 10am and 10.30am today.’
‘I’d really appreciate it, thank you,’ she added, before uploading a photo of her suitcase and imploring anyone who may have seen it being taken to contact her.
Edith was particularly close with her ‘Grandad Bowman’, whom she went to live with every weekend while her parents – who ran a hotel in Fife – were working.
‘I adored Grandad Bowman. He looked after me at weekends when Mum and Dad were working, and he’d make me oatcakes smothered with Dairy Lea, and a cup of hot milk, before reading me bedtime stories,’ she recalled to The Guardian in 2015.
‘He had a stroke when I was seven, which meant he could use only one arm. He wasn’t expected to last the year, but lived another 27 years’.
She went on: ‘We were at a cousin’s wedding when we got the call to say he’d been taken into hospital. As he lay dying, I collected some pictures and candles to brighten up his room, and played his favourite Al Jolson songs. It was hard, but I’m glad I was there.’
More to follow.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.