SOMERSET NEWS: Tommy Banner of The Wurzels makes poignant tribute to his wife

TOMMY Banner of The Wurzels has announced that his beloved wife Christine has lost her battle with illness – although it was eight months ago when she died.

Tommy, a popular member of the legendary West Country band, put out a poignant message on the group’s website earlier today (Friday, October 7, 2016).

“Sadly, after many years of illness, on 14th February, Valentine’s Day, my lovely wife Chris (Christine) passed away very peacefully in Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton,” he wrote.

“The reason we as a family have left it until now to make this sad news known to all of you wonderful Wurzel followers was very personal, but we feel the time is right, now, as Friday 7th October would have been Chris’s birthday.

“Because many of you knew her and knew that she was not well, just recently more and more of you have been asking about her welfare, and when I tell you, I can see you feel very awkward and almost embarrassed to have asked me. Please don’t feel like this, I fully understand the shock you must get when I tell you.”

PHOTO – TOP: Tommy Banner and his beloved wife Chris.

PHOTO – RIGHT: Tommy Banner (left) with the rest of The Wurzels.

Tommy added: “Chris had always lived for her family, always been unselfish, and in the long years of her illness, so brave, and in those seven years she never uttered one word of complaint. One Very Strong Lady!! She was the perfect patient, and I can tell you, patience was not one of her virtues.

“On a personal note I would like to thank my family, friends, carers, The Wurzels team – Pete, John, Sedge, Mike and Louie – our Management team Sil and Al, and our website team, Marcus and Jonathan for all of their support throughout those years of Chris’s suffering.

“Without their support and that of you, our many brilliant fans at shows, I would not have been able to “keep Wurzeling” throughout the seven years of Chris’s illness. And that’s what she wanted me to do.

“On behalf of myself and my family I thank you so much.”

It was back in 2009 when Tommy’s wife first started receiving treatment for Parkinson’s disease because the early symptoms were so similar, but it was later confirmed that it was PSP – Progressive Spuranuclear Palsy – for which there is no cure.

PSP is a Parkinson’s-like neurological condition caused by the premature loss of nerve cells in certain parts of the brain. Over time this leads to difficulties with balance, movement, vision, speech and swallowing.

Tommy made the tribute to his wife on The Wurzels’ official website at http://thewurzels.com/news.htm .

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