Rachel Stevens has broken her silence following the death of her S Club 7 co-star Paul Cattermole. The singer’s tragic passing was announced last Friday, April 7.
In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Rachel shared a photo of Paul from his younger days and thanked fans for their messages of support during this challenging time. “Thank you so much for all your beautiful messages of love and support. The out pouring of love for our Paul has been so incredibly special and has meant so much,” she began.
The 45-year-old continued: “I hope he knew how loved he was. Such a kind, gentle and sensitive soul with the most incredible energy and such a wild free spirit. He would light up any room.”
Read more: Jo O'Meara's tribute after 'tragic' death of S Club 7 bandmate Paul Cattermole
Rachel ended her post by writing: “We are heartbroken but so grateful for the memories we all shared. An absolute shining star who we will love and miss always. RIP darling Paul.”
Upon posting the message, Rachel was met with several supportive comments. “Sending you so much love xx,” wrote one fan.
A second commented: “Wow this news hit hard a fan since day one, S club 7 forever.” A third then said: “So sorry for your loss! Love to you and the rest of the band.”
Fellow S Club 7 band member Tina Barrett also paid tribute to Paul. In a statement on Instagram, she wrote: Thank you for all your well wishes and support in this tragic time. I wrote a poem for Paul I’d like to share with you all." You can read the poem below.
Paul’s passing was confirmed last Friday. A statement from Paul's family and bandmates said: "It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved son and brother Paul Cattermole.
"Paul was found yesterday, April 6, 2023, at his home in Dorset and was pronounced dead later that afternoon. While the cause of death is currently unknown Dorset Police has confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances. Paul’s family, friends, and fellow members of S Club request privacy at this time."
Brit Award winners S Club 7, famous for hits such as Reach and Don't Stop Movin', are due to perform in Cardiff during a much-anticipated tour of the UK later this year. Tickets to the tour sold-out weeks before Paul's passing and the band are yet to comment on whether the upcoming performances will still go ahead after Paul's sad death.
The group, which consists of Bradley McIntosh, Hannah Spearritt, Jo O'Meara, Jon Lee, Rachel Stevens, and Tina Barrett alongside the late Cattermole, are currently scheduled to perform at Cardiff International Arena on October 23.
A statement on the S Club social media accounts said: "We are truly devastated by the passing of our brother Paul. There are no words to describe the deep sadness and loss we all feel.
"We were so lucky to have had him in our lives and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. He will be so deeply missed by each and every one of us. We ask that you respect the privacy of his family and of the band at this time."
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