Legendary singer Sir Tom Jones has opened up about the profoundly moving final wish of his beloved wife, Linda, before she lost her battle with cancer in 2016.
A Love Story That Began in Childhood
Sir Tom Jones, born Thomas John Woodward, was married to his childhood sweetheart, Melinda Rose 'Linda' Woodward, for 59 years. The pair first met in their hometown of Treforest, south Glamorgan, when they were just eight years old. In his 2015 autobiography, the singer recalled fond memories of her playing marbles on the pavement.
Their bond deepened when a young Tom, bedridden with tuberculosis for two years, would watch Linda walk to school. He fell deeply in love with the girl who would smile at him, and by age 15, he had asked her out. They married two years later, at 17, and soon welcomed their son, Mark.
A Lifelong Love Amidst Personal Struggles
Throughout his global fame, Tom Jones always maintained that Linda was the 'love of his life'. However, he has also been candid about his infidelities, including a well-publicised affair with Miss World contestant Marjorie Wallace. Despite this, their partnership remained the enduring foundation of his life.
In 2016, Linda's life was cut short after what was described as a 'short but fierce battle' with cancer. Her passing left the 'It's Not Unusual' singer devastated and questioning his future.
The Heartbreaking Final Conversation
In a 2020 interview on BBC Radio 2 with Jo Whiley, Sir Tom revealed the poignant inspiration behind the opening track, 'I Won't Crumble With You When You Fall', from his then-new album. The song was born from one of his last conversations with Linda during her final ten days in a Los Angeles hospital.
Tom described how Linda remained 'the calmest person in the room', while he and their son were 'like gibbering idiots'. When Tom expressed doubt about his ability to continue singing, fearing 'the words are going to get stuck in my throat', Linda offered her final piece of wisdom.
'You've got to. You can't fall with me. I've got to leave but you don't have to. Don't crumble,' she told him. This powerful request became the emotional core of the song, with Tom explaining, 'So when I heard the song I thought, 'My God that's it. I'll do anything for you.''
Fulfilling a Promise Through Music
True to his wife's wishes, Sir Tom did not crumble. He sought grief counselling and, just months after her death, returned to the stage. In a Facebook post, he later admitted that singing 'really is my best therapy'.
By continuing his career, he honoured the heartfelt plea of the woman he had loved since childhood, ensuring her final request became a guiding light through his profound grief. Their story remains a testament to a complex, decades-long partnership that ended with a simple, powerful command: to keep going.
