Last Updated: 17 Aug 2009

Penny speaks about her cupid

The lady who set Penny Lancaster up with Rod Stewart has tragically died of breast cancer. Penny spoke about the tragic loss at a charity event. "I have a lot to thank her for. She changed my life. "Lots of people take credit for getting Rod and I together but it was actually Maria.

"A crowd of us ended up in a party at the Dorchester that night and when Maria saw Rod she dared me to go up and ask him for his autograph for her daughter Luisa.

"It was so like Maria. She was such a bubbly, life-and-soul-of-the-party girl. Just great fun to be around. It's still hard to believe that she's not here."

"Losing Maria was such a shock. She was such a positive person and even when she became ill, she was determined to stay that way. She was always upbeat and didn't complain."

"Maria was so young. She had two children. It's a disease that affects one in nine women and early detection is the key."