Snooker ace Willie Thorne’s ex-Miss Great Britain widow and three of his children ‘are locked in family feud over his ashes and favourite cue’ after his death in Spain
Snooker Ace Willie Thorne's widow and his three children are reportedly locked in a family feud over his ashes and favourite cue following his death in Spain.
Jill Thorne, 60, his second wife and former Miss Great Britain, is set on auctioning the cue for a cancer charity which Willie became a patron of after his brother's death.
However his children, twins Tristan and Kieran, 35, and daughter Tahli, 32, from his first marriage to Fiona want the cue to 'remain in the family', according to The Mirror.
Snooker Ace Willie Thorne's widow and children are reportedly locked in a bitter dispute over his ashes and favourite cue
Speech and language therapist Jill, from Stoke Golding, Leicestershire, wants the cue to be auctioned at the 20-20 Voice Cancer charity.
Willie became a patron of the charity after his brother Malcolm died of throat cancer.
Speaking to The Mirror, Jill said: 'His children said they wanted the cue back which I understand, but he had bequeathed it to me.'
Jill Thorne, 60, his second wife and former Miss Great Britain, is set on auctioning the cue for the cancer charity which Willie became a patron of after his brother's death
Jill, who met Willie in 1992 while working at the players' lounge at the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield, said he would be 'mortified' if he knew about the row.
She was separated from Willie last year when she returned to the UK from Spain with a severe chest infection and was unable to attend his funeral after he died in June.
Meanwhile his children, according to the widow, brought his ashes home after his funeral near to Torrevieja and not far from his home on the Costa Blanca, Spain.
Jill told the publication: 'We don’t know if they have been scattered, buried or what, which is quite sad.'
Jill met Willie in 1992 while working at the players' lounge at the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield. Pictured: Jill as Miss Great Britain in 1985
Willie's first wife Fiona said: 'My family would not be supportive of Jill selling the cue and will not be stating anything to that effect.'
In March, Willie was diagnosed with leukaemia and had chemotherapy treatment at Torrevieja hospital and also had multiple blood transfusions, suffered from gout, and had a mystery infection, that saw him return to hospital by ambulance, and was placed in ICU.
He died from sepsis in the hospital on June 17, after doctors switched off the machine.
Thorne, pictured playing snooker in 1976, reached two World Championship quarter-finals
Willie, instantly recognisable from his bald head and neat moustache, was well known for his exploits away from the snooker table.
He also featured in Chas and Dave’s 1986 hit song ‘Snooker Loopy’ and appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2007.
His daughter Tahli declined to comment when approached by The Mirror.
MailOnline has contacted Tahli, Kieran and Tristan for comment.
A representative of Jill told MailOnline she was unavailable for comment.