Singer Chris Rea, best known for his festive hit 'Driving Home For Christmas', left a substantial sum to his wife Joan in his final will. Court records show he bequeathed £14,435,894 to her, which after taxes, debts, and costs was reduced to £12,063,178.
Family provision
The final gift of £12 million went to his family, with the will also stipulating his wish to be cremated. According to The Sun, future royalties from his music played on the radio will also go to his wife.
Personal life and health battles
Chris met Joan when they were teenagers, and they were married for 57 years. They had two daughters, Josephine and Julia. A statement from his family at the time of his death said: "It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris. He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family."
Reflecting on his health struggles, Chris once said: "1994, most incredibly successful year, Bing! Abcess on the colon, colostomy bag. They took away the pancreas, the duodenum, the gall bladder and the left quadrant of the liver. All gone." He added: "Type 1 Diabetic, I have to take 34 pills every day, and then, after all of that, my kidneys' gone." He joked that he had a "very good heart".
Chris had previously been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had his pancreas removed in 2001. In 2016, he suffered a stroke, among other health issues over the years.
