Dame Deborah James’ husband finds love with Swiss investment banker three years after campaigner’s death
Dame Deborah James’ widower has found love with a Swiss investment banker three years after the bowel cancer campaigner’s death.
Sebastien Bowen, 45, has begun a relationship with Susann Aulbach, 39, who works as head of investor relations at a London finance firm.
The couple were photographed holding hands during a romantic outing in west London last week. They appeared relaxed and happy together as they strolled along the Thames towpath.
The new relationship fulfils James’ wishes for her husband to move on after her death in June 2022.
The broadcaster and campaigner, who raised more than £11million for cancer research, had given her blessing for Bowen to find love again.
The pair enjoyed a leisurely lunch at the River Cafe in Hammersmith, the fashionable restaurant where Jamie Oliver began his career.
They were spotted celebrating what is believed to have been Aulbach’s birthday.
A passerby said: “They looked like they were very much in love. It was very sweet. For anyone who was inspired by Dame Deborah’s attitude to life, it was really heartening to see her husband looking happy again.”
Aulbach wore an elegant red dress with black sandals and sunglasses for the outing.
Bowen opted for a casual blue shirt and chinos as they basked in the sunshine.
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Body language expert Judi James noted the couple appeared “relaxed” and showed signs of an established friendship.
James had been clear about her wishes for her husband’s future.
Speaking on the BBC, she said: “I have given him strict instructions: I want him to move on.”
“He’s a handsome man, I’m like, ‘Don’t be taken for a ride, don’t marry a bimbo, find someone else who can make you laugh like we did,'” she added.
The campaigner, who called herself ‘Bowelbabe’, even joked about having a list of people she didn’t want him to date. “I would do my damned hardest to haunt him,” she quipped.
She described Bowen as a “very eligible bachelor” and knew he would attract female attention after her death.
Aulbach, who grew up in Switzerland, lives in an £800,000 flat in Chelsea. Her most recent professional role was head of investor relations at a London finance firm.
Bowen, a banker at private equity firm Pomona Capital, had been gradually returning to the dating scene. Friends revealed last December that he had been on several dates as he attempted to rebuild his life.
A source said: “It’s very early days for Seb and he’s taking things very slowly.
“Deborah is going to be a tough act to follow as they had a fantastic marriage and made a great couple. But Seb feels the time has come for him to move on, as Deborah wanted him to.”