'My Jilly has gone' Husband of Jill Saward leads tributes to victims' rights campaigner

Ms Saward was the first rape victim to waive her anonymity after she was attacked by intruders at her father's vicarage in Ealing, west London, in 1986.

She died at Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital on January 5 after suffering a subarachnoid haemorrhage.

The 51-year-old's family have invited "all those who knew and loved Jill" to pay their respects at the service in Staffordshire.

In a homily to be read at the funeral, Ms Saward's courage and the enduring strength she showed in her life and on behalf of rape victims will be praised.

Rev Prebendary Gary Piper will say: "She went through some very dark times - was near suicide at one point.

"Relationships were often difficult, there was a failed first marriage and life was really dark.

"But her courage and strength, together with support from those who loved her, plus that power from Christ, strengthened her and enabled her to pull through."

He will say her years of tireless campaigning, following a landmark decision in 1990 to waive her right to anonymity, "saved a number of lives".

Rev Piper will also say she was strong-minded with a great sense of humour.

In his own heartfelt tribute, Ms Saward's husband, Gavin Drake, said "my Jilly has gone".

He said: "I have been away from Jill, I have never been apart from Jill. That is, until now."

Paying tribute the day before Ms Saward's funeral, he joked how he ended up going on honeymoon in 1994 without his wife because she was pregnant at the time.

He said her death had left him feeling "numb" but there was also "pride" in her achievements, as an influential campaigner and in raising their three sons.

Describing Tuesday's funeral as "almost our final goodbye", he said her remains would later this year be interred in the town of Nefyn in North Wales which she had so loved in life.

Mr Drake said: "She wanted to live in Nefyn, but we didn't move there because she was concerned that local people were being priced out of the town by outsiders moving in."

He added: "In everything, she was caring and considerate of the needs for others."

Mr Drake said: "The pain of losing Jill has been hard. And is hard. Not just for me, but for my three lads.

"Myles, Rory and Fergus have shown incredible courage and strength - on the outside at least.

"I have no idea what they are thinking on the inside, or what they are going through.

"I only know what I am going through - but even here, I think that I am too numb to really know what I am feeling."

Mr Drake also told of his immense gratitude to the medics who treated Ms Saward, and the "care, concern and compassion" he had been shown in the "very difficult hours" after her collapse.

He also spoke of receiving hundreds of messages from around the globe by those touched by Ms Saward.

"We have been inundated with messages of support - again from all over the world," he added.

"Statesmen and sports stars; politicians and campaigners; archbishops and ordinary people."

Mr Drake, a journalist, said: "Many are from strangers. But all of them are extremely precious and we are so grateful for everybody who has taken the time to get in touch.

"Your words and messages mean so much to us."

Both devoted Christians, Mr Drake said her death had left him "aching".

"Jilly and I are Christians and, even though I know that she is now with our Lord and Saviour, the pain of her death is very strong," he added.

Mr Drake also spoke touchingly of being at his wife's bedside for her last Communion, calling it "a very special and precious moment".

Speaking of his pain, he said: "I hear the key in the door and my heart lifts - Jill's back. But, of course, she isn't. It is somebody else.

"It will take a long time to come to terms with Jill's death - but the support of family, friends, and even strangers is helping."

He said his wife's decision to be an organ donor had also transformed the lives of two other people.

Donations in memory of Ms Saward are invited to the Cambrian Coast Evangelical Trust, Ehlers-Danlos Support UK or the Merseyside-based Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre.