A service of dedication for the victims of eating disorders is to be held at Norwich Cathedral as part of celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the Charity 'Beat'.

This will be the first ever service of its kind and aims to provide a moment of reflection as well give a message of hope and reinforce charity pledges that there will no longer be any deaths due to eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

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One of the guests of the said event is Downton Abbey star David Robb who lost his wife, Actress Briony McRoberts last year after she killed herself because she was suffering from anorexia. The actor wants to reinforce that this is an illness that can affect anyone and everyone both men and women and both the young and the old. 

Robb says that eating disorders are not just teenage fads and that it is one of the most serious of all mental diseases because it's not just about the food, its about control.

He recalls that his late wife always said that her eating disorder was like a boa constrictor that wraps itself around her and squeezes her, the actor also recalled his wife's actions, saying "She wouldn't eat breakfast and when she was working up in Scotland, I would visit her and notice that she was extremely thin, so we would go out and have a great meal in Glasgow and all would seem to be fine again."  

He also said that the actress was able to gain control and stop her eating disorder but it all went downhill when she hit her 50's and acting jobs seemed to dry up for her.

His message for anyone who has a partner suffering from an eating disorder "Don't ignore it, do not. Also, don't think that it would fix itself because it won't."

The service will take place at Norwich Cathedral on October 22 at 2.30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend, no matter what their faith or race is. There will also be the opportunity to have a candle lit in memory of a loved one.  

TagsDavid Robb