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

Warwick Davis has made his first public appearance since the passing of his wife Samantha Davis six weeks ago as he supported a charity event this week. The 54-year-old actor, known for his roles in the Harry Potter and Star Wars franchises, attended a "reflection evening" held by St Barnabas Hospice on Thursday, May 1. The event marked the launch of the hospice's Feathers from Above appeal, which features "an installation of 1,000 handmade feathers that offer supporters a unique way to remember a loved one".

As a patron of St Barnabas Hospice, Warwick supports the organisation that provides palliative and end-of-life care to adults with life-limiting or terminal illnesses. The charity explains that buying a feather helps sustain its services for more than 12,000 patients and their families.

Warwick was accompanied by his children Annabelle Davis, aged 27, and Harrison Davis, 21, at the event held at Aubourn Hall and Gardens in Lincolnshire. Images of the family have been circulating on Instagram following the event.

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In a statement released by the charity and attributed to Warwick he spoke about his recent personal loss. "The loss of a loved one is, sadly, something many of us will endure in our lifetime," Warwick said according to the Mirror. "It can come unexpectedly or as the result of a terminal illness. Nonetheless the experience is just as painful and heartbreaking. Recently I've come to understand what this means first-hand with the passing of my beloved wife Sammy.

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

Annabelle shared her experience on social media posting a photo of herself beside her father 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." She concluded with a link to the appeal and encouraged her fans to dedicate feathers themselves.

The family's attendance at the event comes just weeks after it was announced that Samantha had died at the age of 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. More than £23,000 has been donated through JustGiving. You can keep up to date with the latest TV and showbiz news by signing up to the newsletter here.