ESTHER Rantzen has made her first public appearance since the death of her husband Desmond Wilcox.

Organisers of Wessex Heart-beat's Opera from the Heart held at Southampton's May-flower Theatre decided to dedicate the night to their late patron after his death earlier this month.

Accompanied by her son Joshua, television presenter Miss Rantzen was greeted at the entrance by Wessex Heartbeat's fundraiser Peter Wickham and handed a bouquet.

Desmond, a TV documentary maker, became a patron of the charity in 1991, and had been actively involved in raising millions of pounds for the charity, which supports the Wessex Cardiac Unit of Southampton General Hospital, ever since.

In 1998 he became a patient of the unit after a heart attack at the couple's New Forest home.

Chief executive Alan Blair said: "We were delighted to see Esther at the show. Desmond opened so many doors for us and did everything he could and more, we felt it was fitting to dedicate the night to him.

"Esther told me she was so grateful for the last two years that she and Desmond had been able to share with their family after his life had been saved by the talent and skill of the surgeons at the cardiac unit."

More than 1,500 guests enjoyed the night of popular opera which was compered by GMTV newsreader Penny Smith.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.