Reverend Richard Coles announces death of his sister-in-law Louise following COVID-19 battle four months after losing his partner David
- Reverend Richard, 58, has announced that his sister-in-law, Louise, has died from COVID-19
- The former Strictly star took to Twitter on Wednesday to share the devastating news just four months after losing his partner David
- Louise, married to Richard’s older brother Andy, had been unwell ‘for some time’ with cancer, she had a brain tumour, and was shielding during the pandemic
- She was a former French teacher and Conservative councillor for Fletton and Woodston, in Peterborough
- Richard’s partner, Reverend David, passed away in December aged 42 during an operation for internal bleeding as a result of an underlying health condition
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Reverend Richard Coles has announced that his sister-in-law, Louise, has died from COVID-19.
The former Strictly star, 58, took to Twitter on Wednesday to share the devastating news just four months after his partner David passed away during an operation for internal bleeding as a result of an underlying health condition.
Richard posted a picture of Louise, who was married to his older brother Andy, and David together in North Africa as he paid tribute to his ‘lovely’ sister-in-law, who was a Conservative councillor for Fletton and Woodston in Peterborough.
Sad: Reverend Richard Coles has announced that his sister-in-law, Louise, has died from COVID-19 (pictured in April 2019)
He wrote: ‘My lovely sister in law @lozaamandine died this afternoon with COVID19.
‘She made lots of people very happy, not least @RevDavidColes , with whom she went on extravagant and unauthorised expeditions to her beloved North Africa. RIP, darling woman.’
Richard’s partner, Reverend David Coles, passed away in December aged 42 after battling an underlying health condition for more than a year. He never recovered from an operation for internal bleeding after being rushed to hospital.
Louise, a Conservative councillor for Fletton and Woodston, Peterborough, had been unwell ‘for some time’ with cancer and had caught COVID-19 while shielding from the pandemic. She had been elected onto the council in May 2019.
Heartbreaking: The former Strictly star, 58, took to Twitter on Wednesday to share the devastating news just four months after losing his partner David during an operation for internal bleeding (pictured with Louise)
Tribute: Richard posted a picture of Louise, who was married to his older brother Andy, and David together in North Africa as he paid tribute to his ‘lovely’ sister-in-law
Richard’s older brother and Louise’s husband, Andy, also a Conservative councillor for Fletton and Woodston, paid tribute on his own account.
He added in a statement posted to LinkedIn that Louise had just finished a course of radiotherapy for a brain tumour and he was shocked she had caught COVID-19 due to their careful isolating during the pandemic.
Andy shared that Louise had passed away at a special coronavirus ward at Peterborough City Hospital on Wednesday. He added that he is currently symptomless but fears he may now too catch the deadly virus.
Sharing a photo of the two of them together, he tweeted: ‘I am very sorry to have to report the death of my wife Louise this afternoon.
‘She had been unwell for some time with cancer, but caught coronavirus even while shielding. Thankfully we had time to prepare, but this was too soon.’
Tragic: Louise, a former French teacher and Conservative councillor for Fletton and Woodston, Peterborough, had been unwell ‘for some time’ with cancer and had caught COVID-19 while shielding from the pandemic. Her husband, Andy, also paid tribute to his wife (pictured)
He added in a statement posted to LinkedIn: ‘I’m sorry to say my beloved wife Louise died yesterday in a coronavirus ward at Peterborough City Hospital.
‘She has just completed a course of radiotherapy on a brain tumour and we were hoping to have more time together.
‘But two days after admission with breathing problems she was gone. Thank you to the amazing NHS staff on ward B12 for doing all they could to treat her.
‘We had been shielding so carefully it was a shock to learn that the virus had infected her – who knows how, but possibly during our last trip to hospital for radiotherapy. I’m still symptomless but imagine I’m going to be unwell soon.
Statement: He added in a statement posted to LinkedIn that Louise had just finished a course of radiotherapy for a brain tumour and he was shocked she had caught COVID-19 due to their careful isolating during the pandemic
‘This virus is so easy to catch and it is so difficult to know when you get exposed. If you know of someone who has an underlying condition, please be aware that they are so vulnerable and make allowances.’
Louise was a retired French teacher and head of sixth form at The Peterborough School, where she had worked for 17 years.
Prior to settling in Peterborough, she had lived in Egypt for 10 years and travelled to Libya, France and Germany as part of her previous job as a publisher.
In recent months, she had been working as a Conservative councillor for Fletton and Woodston, in Peterborough. She had been elected onto the council in May 2019.
Just weeks before her death, Louise had shared a sweet Mother’s Day surprise from her daughter and brother-in-law while self-isolating.
Surprise: Just weeks earlier, Louise had shared a sweet Mother’s Day surprise from her daughter and brother-in-law while self-isolating
Self-isolating: With Louise’s husband adding that they had also been self-isolating after displaying symptoms, he tweeted: ‘They are #selfisolating too as Sam works at the hospital and picked up a bit of a cough and temperature a week ago.’
Posting a picture of a cardboard sign saying ‘happee muvvers dae innit!’ with a heart left on her fence, she had quipped: ‘Yes. It’s lovely having the kids living next door.’
With Louise’s husband adding that they had also been self-isolating after displaying symptoms, he tweeted: ‘They are #selfisolating too as Sam works at the hospital and picked up a bit of a cough and temperature a week ago.
‘They will be able to go out in a week. We’re going to be doing this for three months minimum. Weird times we live in.’
On Wednesday, Louise’s husband Andy also shared Richard’s announcement and added: ‘And don’t forget that weekend ‘house hunting’ in France.
Comforted: Andy added that he is being comforted by their two pet dogs, Ramsis and Noot, as he shared a photo of them cuddled up to him at their home
‘We nearly ended up with two farmhouses and an eighteenth century cider press to share! The naughty step in heaven sounds like the place to be.’
Andy added that he is being comforted by their two pet dogs, Ramsis and Noot, as he shared a photo of them cuddled up to him at their home.
Richard’s followers sent their support and own tributes to Louise after announcing the news.
Presenter Matthew Wright put: ‘So, so sorry x.’
Heartache: Richard’s partner, Reverend David Coles, passed away in December aged 42 after battling an underlying health condition for more than a year. He never recovered from an operation for internal bleeding after being rushed to hospital
Radio host Shelagh Fogarty said: ‘So sorry to hear this Richard. My sympathy to you and your family.’
Comedian Jenny Eclair commented: ‘Sending love,strength and sympathy- I’m so sorry.’
While author Catherine Mayer noted: ‘I’m so very sorry. To lose someone else right now, especially someone so integral to your shared history with David, is too much to bear. Except that you will…’
To which Richard replied with: ‘Yes, what else are you going to do?’
Support: The former Celebrity MasterChef star’s followers sent their support and own tributes to Louise
In December, Richard announced that his partner David had passed away aged 42 having been ‘ill for a while’.
His death had been unexpected and he died from an operation for internal bleeding as a result of an underlying health condition. He never returned home after being rushed to hospital.
Richard, who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, entered into a civil partnership with David after the Church of England allowed it in 2005 – but they were celibate.
The couple lived together with their dogs Daisy, Pongo, Audrey and Horatio in the vicarage of St Mary’s in Finedon, Northamptonshire.
Richard wrote at the time: ‘I’m very sorry to say that Rev David Coles has died. He had been ill for a while. Thanks to the brilliant teams who looked after him at Kettering General Hospital. Funeral details to follow’.
Partner: Richard entered into a civil partnership with David after the Church of England allowed it in 2005 – but they were celibate
Home life: The couple lived together with their dogs Daisy, Pongo, Audrey and Horatio in the vicarage of St Mary’s in Finedon, Northamptonshire (pictured in 2014)
He then quoted Isaiah 60:20: ‘The Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended’, but did not reveal the cause of David’s death.
Richard often spoke with love about David and their life together, particularly on his Radio 4 show: Saturday Live. But their dream of retiring to Scotland with their four dogs will now not happen.
While David was ordained, he was no longer working as a priest, however, the supportive role he has played for his partner has been considered vital for the Rev Coles, his parishioners said.
In his previous life Richard had been the instrumentalist half of the Eighties pop duo The Communards with Jimmy Sommerville, who had a Number One single Don’t Leave Me This Way, and a number of other hits which made him millions.
Past: Richard was in The Communards with Jimmy Sommerville and they made millions from a string of hit singles before he turned to God (pictured)
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