NO TIME FOR LAST

SIR Bruce Forysth died with his beloved wife Wilnelia clasping his hand, a friend has revealed.

But the TV legend’s rapid decline in his final days meant many of his closest pals did not get to say goodbye.

One close friend made the heartbreaking revelations yesterday, speaking of how Bruce, who died on Friday aged 89, went downhill fast over seven days.

The source said: “His friends weren’t aware of how rapidly he had declined and he didn’t want them to see him the way he was.

“None of his close friends came to say goodbye, sadly it never happened. There were lots of people wanting to come and see him but they were batted away.”

He added that the speed of Bruce’s decline had shocked even his family.

The friend said: “Ten days ago, Brucie wasn’t great but he was chatting away. He hadn’t been great before but he had got through it.

“But over the weekend and by the Monday in the week of which this all happened, he had declined quite severely. There were two or three days where he wasn’t well and the family were very worried.”

Bruce was surrounded by all six of his children and devoted third wife Wilnelia, 59, as he finally lost his long battle with ill health.

The friend said: “He said goodbye to all his children and to Winnie and they were all there at the time he died.

“Winnie was holding his hand. It was very emotional, peaceful and sad all at the same time. It was like he had just had enough and then he was gone.

Strong

“The children were staying at the house from Wednesday night and are still staying at the house.

“They are being there for Wilnelia and keeping her strong.”

TV presenter Rosemarie Ford, who co-hosted The Generation Game with Bruce in the early 1990s, said she now worries about how Wilnelia will cope without him.

And in a moving interview she spoke of how, even through his ill health, the caring star would ring her up to see how she was.

She said: “Every so often he would call me out of the blue. The last time must have been a few months ago. We would occasionally meet up with him and Winnie for dinner.

“I saw him when he became a Sir. I was really fortunate to be invited to his private party afterwards.”

Rosemarie, 55, also said every moment working with Bruce was a “masterclass”, adding: “I learned so much from him.

“When you think about his longevity and the amount he has done and his incredible talent, it makes me feel so lucky to have worked with him.

“He became a friend. He was so supportive. I couldn’t have wished for somebody better to work with.

“He was such a joy to be around.

“We knew he was getting more frail and there would be a point when he couldn’t carry on but you just hoped he’d go on for ever. But he couldn’t.” She also told of how he would always make time to help settle her nerves before shows by having “a cup of tea and digestive biscuit” with her. And when her father died just after the first series, he would phone every day and speak not just to Rosemarie but her sister an and mum too. She said: “He’d“phone up every day and say, ‘Are you all O OK?’ and just chat to us. That’s a man with a hu huge heart. “He we went above and beyond what was expected of him. “When I started working w with Bruce, he realised I w was very nervous. This was a huge show and you ju just know your l i fe i s going to chan change overnight. “A “And he sat wit with me every