BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley has paid an emotional tribute to her “lovely” father Martin as she shared the sad news of his death.
In a post to Instagram on Tuesday evening, Jo shared a series of photos and videos of her electrician father, who was last year diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
“My lovely Dad died today,” the presenter wrote. “He was the kindest man, who lived solely to make others happy. He was supremely selfless and loved nothing more than caring for others and making people laugh.”
Love of music
Jo, 61, credited Martin for having instilled in her the long-time love of music that led to her lengthy broadcasting career.
“I have Dad to thank for my love of music – he used to walk around the building site where he worked as an electrician with a huge ghetto blaster – the OG DJ and his passion for music never went away,” she wrote, adding that Martin’s love for Elbow, Coldplay and Dido was “unrivalled”.
A force for good
Orphaned from a young age and raised by a family friend, and suffering from tuberculosis as a child, Martin had, in Jo’s words, a “sad” childhood.
“Knowing how it felt not to be cared for, he devoted his life to caring for others,” Jo explained, describing how he’d been a particular “force for good” when it came caring for her younger sister Frances. Frances has cri du chat syndrome, a genetic disorder that can cause learning difficulties.
“He may have had the saddest childhood but he triumphed by giving me, Frances, and his grandchildren the happiest childhoods anyone could have dreamt of,” she continued. “He was the greatest Dad and he was everybody’s favourite Grandad… We’re going to miss you so very much. You absolute legend.”
Messages of support
Jo’s post was met with countless messages from Jo’s followers and famous friends.
Her podcast co-host Zoe Ball wrote: “Darling Jo. I’m so sorry for your loss. Your words and these photos paint such a picture of a wonderful man who loved his family with his whole heart. thinking of you and your mum, Frances and the kids and Steve. Arms around you.”
“Sending all my love to you and Frances and the kids Jo,” said fellow presenter Annie Macmanus.
“[Your] dad broke the chain,” commented Skunk Anansie musician Skin. “There are many ways he could have gone but he chose happiness and love which created you, someone who has changed so many lives. So well done dad, a life well lived that shall always be remembered with nothing but love and gratitude.”
Parkinson's diagnosis
Last year, Jo spoke for the first time about her dad being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease “We had been suspecting something was going on with my dad for a while, so it was good to get a diagnosis, and now we’re trying to make sense of it all. It’s really early days, and he’s quite confused about it,” she told Woman and Home magazine.
“Something like that puts everything in perspective and stops you from worrying about rubbish. Everyone will be dealing with those things in real life. That’s the reality of being my age; that you end up having more people to look after and more responsibilities.”
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease in which the brain becomes more and more damaged over the years, with symptoms including the involuntary shaking of body parts, slowed movement and mobility issues.
