Television chef Delia Smith has spoken about her husband Michael Wynn Jones's final weeks and her own end-of-life thoughts, weeks after his death at the age of 85. In an interview with journalist Amol Rajan, Smith, also 85, described being with her husband throughout his final illness and the impact of losing him after a 55-year marriage.
Final Weeks and Gratitude
Smith told the former BBC Radio 4 Today programme host: “He was ill, very ill for the last, sort of, six weeks of his life, he was very, very ill. I was with him the whole time, night and day, all the time.”
Asked how she was coping, she said: “First of all, I’m filled with gratitude. I mean, 55 years of a marriage, that was so incredible. I mean, we had such a ball together. We did so many things. We had a lovely life together.”
She added: “And we’re 85 and you’re sort of thinking, well, you know, our lives are coming to an end anyway. But obviously, I’ve got to learn how to be half a whole. That’s going to be hard after 55 years.”
Tribute to Hospice Team
Smith also paid tribute to the hospice team who cared for her husband, saying: “We had everything. We had everything we needed night and day.”
Wynn Jones died on September 28 after a health battle. The couple married in 1971 and together supported Norwich City Football Club, where Wynn Jones was a majority shareholder for 28 years, during the club's rise to the Premier League.
Marriage Secret and Club Tribute
Asked about the secret to their long marriage, Smith said: “I think if you both like football it helps. Cricket and football were his life.”
Norwich City FC released a statement following his death, saying: “Everyone at Norwich City is deeply saddened by the passing of our honorary life president, Michael Wynn Jones. Michael died peacefully at home on Monday morning, aged 85.”
The statement added: “He will be greatly missed. His family are grateful for the wonderful care provided by the community nursing team at St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich. Our deepest condolences are with Delia and Tom, and with all of Michael's family, friends and loved ones. At the family's request, we ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult time.”
