Quinton Bird, the second husband of Gary Speed ’s widow Louise, has died aged 53, it has emerged.
Bird and Louise were married in December 2021 in Peckforton Castle in Cheshire , 10 years after the suicide of Louise’s first husband, Welsh football legend Gary Speed.
Bird and Louise had been business partners for approximately six years and were directors of the Chester-based renovations company Bow Property Development.
But the property developer died less than a year after their wedding from an aggressive form of brain cancer , the Daily Mail reports.
In July, Bird’s father Roy reportedly dedicated his annual event, the UK Audio Show, to his eldest son and announced that a percentage of ticket sales would be donated to the Brain Tumour Charity.
Wales Online reports that Roy said he was “devastated” to lose his son “at such a young age”.
He added that his son was a “wonderful” father and the entire family “had been left with a wealth of beautiful and extraordinary memories”.
Louise had previously written for the Mail on the 10th anniversary of Speed’s death, revealing that she had found joy and happiness with a new partner.
“I was trudging through life, just functioning,” she said. “If I could have been anybody else apart from me, for a long time, I would have happily taken it. But we are 10 years on now. It’s a cliche but time is a healer even if it takes years. I have learned that life can be good again, can be great again.”
Photos shared from their wedding venue’s Instagram account in November 2021 showed the beaming couple outside the church, with Louise holding a bouquet of white roses while dressed in a white lace wedding gown, veil and white heels.
The church was also covered in white roses and lit by candles, with more white roses as the centrepieces for each table at the reception, and an elegant four-tiered wedding cake.
Professional toastmaster Stefan, who worked at the wedding, described the couple as “lovely and kind”.
Speed died by suicide in his Cheshire home in 2011. A coroner later ruled that Speed’s suicide may have been accidental .
If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, the Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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