Woody Cook, son of renowned BBC Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball and DJ Fatboy Slim, has taken to social media to express his heartfelt tribute to his beloved grandmother, Julia Peckham, following her passing after a brief yet valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. Ball, visibly devastated by the loss, initially broke the news of her mother’s passing on social media, sharing a touching photograph of her late mother and expressing her profound grief.
In the wake of his mother’s announcement, Woody, whose father is the esteemed DJ Fatboy Slim, took to Instagram to honor the memory of his grandmother and posted a cherished photograph of himself alongside his sister Nelly as children with Julia. His accompanying caption exuded both love and gratitude: ‘Today I bid farewell to Granny J, thank you for being a remarkable woman. The only person who never failed to send me a Valentine’s card.’
Woody’s tribute extended beyond his grandmother, as he touchingly remembered his late grandfather, Rick Peckham, who passed away in 2013: ‘I know you’re with Rick now, give him a hug from me.’ He poignantly recalled a piece of advice his grandfather had once shared during a moment of panic in a helicopter over the jungle: ‘If you get lost, follow the river!’ You’ll find him at the end x’.
Ball’s initial announcement on Wednesday revealed that her mother had succumbed to pancreatic cancer after a courageous battle. She had previously taken a temporary break from her radio show to provide dedicated care for her mother, who was recently admitted to a hospice. The presenter shared a cherished photo of her mother from her youth on Instagram, accompanied by a deeply moving caption: ‘Sleep tight dear Mama. Thank you for teaching us how to love unconditionally, to always show courage and empathy, and how, even in the darkest of days, laughter is the greatest of gifts.’
Just last month, Ball disclosed that Julia’s cancer had significantly progressed, prompting the family to prioritize creating enduring memories together. She later announced that Julia had transitioned to a hospice setting, describing the process as ‘gentle.’ Following the disclosure of her mother’s diagnosis, it was announced that Gaby Roslin would step in to cover for Ball during her necessary absences from the show.
