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Billiard ace Willie Thorne’s widow and children are locked in a dispute over his ashes and his favorite cue.
His second wife, Jill Thorne, 60, a former Miss Great Britain, wants to auction off the sign for Willie’s favorite cancer charity.
But her children from her first marriage, twins Tristan and Kieran, 35, and daughter Tahli, 32, want her to “stay in the family.”
Jill said that after Willie died in June in Spain at age 66, she wanted to hold a memorial in the UK and then scatter his ashes.
But her children took her ashes home after the funeral near Torrevieja, near her home on the Costa Blanca.
(Image: Daily Mirror / Andy Stenning)
Jill separated from Willie last year after returning to England with a serious chest infection and was unable to attend his funeral. The mother said: “It was painful that we did not have ashes.
“We don’t know if they have been scattered, buried or what, which is quite sad.” She added: “I was a closest relative. When he became very ill, he passed away very quickly.
“We spoke every day on the phone, he said he wanted me to have the clue.
“He wanted his son to take care of his financial affairs only after his death, as he did not want me to deal with his debts anymore. He wanted me to be fully involved in everything else and I agreed.
“We love each other unconditionally until the end.” She believes his ashes may have been scattered in Norfolk.
(Image: Daily Mirror / Andy Stenning)
His plan is to auction the signal for the 20-20 Voice Cancer charity. Willie became his employer after the death of his brother Malcolm from throat cancer.
Jill, from Stoke Golding, Leics, said: “His kids said they wanted the return signal, which I understand, but he bequeathed it to me.”
She said Willie would be “mortified” if he found out about the dispute over the signal, adding: “He would love for it to be sold for charity.”
Willie, who lost around £ 3.5 million during his career due to his gambling addiction, died of sepsis after he was diagnosed with leukemia in March.
Fans raised £ 20,000 to help pay for his care after he was declared bankrupt four years ago.
Speech and language therapist Jill, who won Miss Great Britain in 1985, met Willie, who was from Leicestershire, when she was working in the players’ lounge at the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield in 1992.
(Image: PA)
She said of Willie: “He had a heart of gold, there was a great side to him. But it was the game that he could never get over. “
Willie’s first wife, Fiona, said: “There is some controversy as we wanted the signal to stay in the family.
“Willie was emphatic that he wanted Tristan and not Jill to take care of his affairs when he died, and there are several witnesses to that.
“He wasn’t very interested in Jill getting involved. My family would not support Jill selling the taco and will not declare anything to that effect.
“It wasn’t Willie’s last wishes.”
Tahli declined to comment when approached by the Mirror.
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