Editing Edward Heath (section)

==Illness and death==
[[File:Edward Heath monument.jpg|thumb|upright|Heath's monument in [[Salisbury Cathedral]]]]
In August 2003, at the age of 87, Heath suffered a [[pulmonary embolism]] while on holiday in [[Salzburg]], Austria. He never fully recovered, and owing to his declining health and mobility made very few public appearances in the last two years of his life. His last appearance was at the unveiling of a set of gates at [[St Paul's Cathedral]] dedicated to Churchill on 30 November 2004.

In his final public statement, Heath paid tribute to [[James Callaghan]], who died on 26 March 2005, saying "James Callaghan was a major fixture in the political life of this country during his long and varied career. When in opposition he never hesitated to put firmly his party's case. When in office he took a smoother approach towards his supporters and opponents alike. Although he left the House of Commons in 1987 he continued to follow political life and it was always a pleasure to meet with him. We have lost a major figure from our political landscape."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4385189.stm |title='Tough operator' remembered |work=BBC News |date=26 March 2005 |access-date=20 April 2010}}</ref>

Just under four months later, Sir Edward Heath died at his home from [[pneumonia]] at 7.30&nbsp;pm on 17 July 2005, at the age of 89, the day after his spokesman said he was 'nearing the end of his life'.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/sir-edward-heath-dies-aged-89-299942.html | title=Sir Edward Heath dies aged 89 | website=[[Independent.co.uk]] | date=17 July 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/sir-edward-heath-dies-1077040 |title=Sir Edward Heath Dies |date=18 July 2005 |website=Manchester Evening News |access-date=23 April 2021}}</ref> He was cremated on 25 July 2005 at a funeral service attended by 1,500 people. On the day after his death, the [[BBC Parliament]] channel showed the BBC results coverage of the 1970 election. A memorial service was held for Heath in [[Westminster Abbey]] on 8 November 2005, which was attended by 2,000 people. Three days later his ashes were interred in [[Salisbury Cathedral]]. In a tribute to him, the then-prime minister Tony Blair stated "He was a man of great integrity and beliefs he held firmly from which he never wavered".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.number10.gov.uk/history-and-tour/prime-ministers-in-history/edward-heath |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080825211306/http://www.number10.gov.uk/history-and-tour/prime-ministers-in-history/edward-heath |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 August 2008 |title=Edward Heath |publisher=10 Downing Street |access-date=17 August 2010}}</ref>