Despite reported infidelities, Tom Jones and his wife Melinda “Linda” Woodward stayed together for 59 years.
When she fell ill with cancer in 2016, she had only one wish for Tom.
And he made sure to keep this promise to his wife.
Sir Tom Jones, 84, was born in Wales, in 1940, as Thomas John Woodward , but is known by the stage name Tom Jones.
For six decades, he has charmed fans with his charming personality and powerful voice.
With songs like “It’s Not Unusual”, “What’s New Pussycat” and his later hit “Sexbomb”, Tom has truly written himself into the history books.
But in addition to the long and successful career, he has also had a controversial love life. Tom Jones was a ladies’ man who – despite his long marriage – had hundreds of relationships.
Though Melinda ‘Linda’ Woodward chose to ignore the affairs and stayed by Tom’s side until her death in 2016.
Tom Jones’ love life with wife Linda
Tom met his wife Linda for the first time when they were only eight years old. But it would take a few years before Tom fell in love.
It was only when, as a 12-year-old, he contracted tuberculosis and was confined to his home for two years, that their romance started to blossom.
During that time, Linda passed his house daily and smiled at him, leaving Tom with a great crush that lasted throughout his illness.
When he finally recovered, he mustered up the courage to ask Linda if she wanted to go on a date with him. They immediately became a couple and were married two years later.
At the age of 17, they also became parents for the first time when son Mark Woodward , 67, was born.
But as Tom’s career began to take off, he received more and more attention from women and found it difficult to keep his hands in check.
Tom and Linda were married for 59 years, but Jones admitted to having hundreds of affairs with women, including one with Miss World contestant Marjorie Wallace , according to the Mirror .
Another romance, with model Katherine Berkery in 1987, also resulted in Tom having a second son Jonathan Berkery, 35.
But despite all the affairs, Tom has always claimed that Linda is the greatest love of his life.
Tom Jones’s wife Linda’s last wish
Jones had an immense love for his wife and was devastated when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and did not have long to live.
In a 2020 interview with BBC Radio, Tom Jones recounted the last few days with his wife, saying she was the “calmest person in the room”, while he and his son Mark acted like “babbling idiots”.
Tom explained to the radio channel that he told Linda he didn’t know if he would be able to sing again – but she wasn’t going to accept that.
“She said, ‘You have to make it. You must not fall with me. I have to go, but you don’t need to,’” said Tom.
Linda said the phrase “Don’t crumble” which became the inspiration for his next song “I Won’t Crumble When You Fall” and Tom kept his promise to keep singing.
A few months after Linda’s death, he stood on stage again and used music as therapy to overcome the difficult time.
What a wise person Linda was.
