Sir Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group, has announced the death of his beloved wife, Joan Templeman, describing himself as 'heartbroken' by the loss of his partner of five decades.
A Love Story Spanning 50 Years
The couple, who married in 1989, shared a profound bond that began long before their wedding day. They are survived by their two children, Holly and Sam.
Announcing the news in a poignant social media post on Tuesday evening, the 75-year-old entrepreneur paid an emotional tribute to his late wife. He wrote that he was heartbroken to share that Joan, his wife and partner for 50 years, had passed away.
'She was the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for,' Sir Richard stated. 'She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world. Love you forever, Joan x.'
A Private Partnership and a London Beginning
In a previous article written for the Virgin website to celebrate her 70th birthday, Sir Richard had recounted the charming story of how they met. He revealed he fell in love with Joan 'from the first moment I saw her' while she was working in a bric-a-brac shop on London's Westbourne Grove.
To win her affection, the young Branson had to 'persistently hang around the shop and buy countless objects', including an old advertising sign, before they eventually started dating.
He also described Joan Templeman as a 'very private person' who had, nonetheless, 'always stood by me mentally, emotionally and spiritually' throughout their long life together, offering unwavering support behind the scenes of his very public career.
