Wednesday, 18 February 2009

Coronation Street’s Bill Roache pays tribute to late wife

Cast attend memorial for Sara Roache

Bill Roache with daughter Verity and son William | Bill Roache with daughter Verity and son William at the memorial for his wife Sara | Now Magazine

Bill Roache was supported by his children Verity and William at Sara Roache's funeral

Coronation Street’s Bill Roache laid his wife to rest yesterday.

Sara Roache, 58, passed away unexpectedly at their Cheshire home on Saturday 7 February.

Filming on the ITV soap was suspended so that cast and crew could attend the memorial service at St Bartholomew’s Church in Wilmslow.

‘I am the luckiest man alive to have had such a loving, loyal, devoted, beautiful wife for 35 years,’ a teary Bill, 76, said during his moving eulogy.

‘I know, and I really do know, she is in a beautiful place and we are eternally connected. Her presence was so strong, her love was so strong and I will always miss her.

‘I have a legacy from Sara to live life to the full, to do everything to the best of your ability and to remember that love solves everything. I love you, Sara.’

Bill, who plays Ken Barlow, and Sara have children Verity, 28, and William, 23, together.

The actor, who lost 18-month-old daughter Edwina in 1984, held a private service and cremation earlier in the day with his family.

The cause of Sara’s death has not yet been released.