Friend of Jarvis Cocker who inspired Disco 2000 died hours before MBE honours announced

A childhood friend of Jarvis Cocker died hours before her award of an MBE was announced.

Deborah Bone, 51, was the inspiration for Pulp song Disco 2000.

Bone worked as a nurse and she was to be honoured for services to children's mental health, but died the day before Christmas Eve after a year long battle with bone cancer just before the award was made public. She learned of the award a month ago.

Bone grew up with Cocker in Sheffield. She was referred to in the 1995 Pulp hit, which told of the musician's infatuation with her when they were at school. The single reached number seven in the UK charts. It tells the story of the singer falling for a childhood friend called Deborah who is more popular than he is.

Bone wrote on her website that she had remained friends with Cocker: "My claim to fame is growing up and sleeping with Jarvis Cocker. Well someone had to do it, and it was all perfectly innocent! The family keep in touch and I got to join in with the fun and frolics at one of his concerts in Wembley."

Cocker is said to have sung Disco 2000 at Bone's 50th birthday party.

Bone's family live in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. They announced her death online. Her husband Colin wrote: "I shall be proud to attend the MBE ceremony on her behalf."

Bone's death comes as new stem cell treatments for bone cancers are being introduced into the UK. The most radical treatments involve stem cells being extracted from the patient and being used to grow new stem cells outside the body. Meanwhile, the patient receives chemotherapy to kill cancerous cells. The patient is then "rebooted" with the fresh cells. However, these treatments are not yet available in all UK health trust areas.