Bob’s pain struck a sad chord with many

When Peaches Geldof was found dead three months ago, her dad Bob described the family as “fractured but not broken”.

I spoke to him last week in his first TV interview since the death of his daughter, who was just 25 and the mother of two small boys.

He spoke very movingly about how has been trying to deal with his grief, and how the pain of losing someone can hit you out of the blue and you “buckle”.

The interview struck a chord with so many people who have been bereaved, especially parents. We are not supposed to outlive our children and, as Bob said, the pain is unimaginable.

His way of trying to cope with his grief is through his music. He can “lose himself” when performing and he has reformed The Boomtown Rats.

Bob was also very touched by the letters, cards and the outpouring of sympathy he and his family have received.

It’s often difficult for us to know what to say to someone who has been bereaved, and it shows a simple letter, or just saying how sorry you are is so appreciated.

At the end of the interview I gave him a big hug, not just from me, but from everyone who was so shocked and saddened by the death of his daughter.