As by now most of you are aware, my wife Michelle was admitted to hospital on Monday morning suffering from headaches. She was subsequently diagnosed with a bleed on the brain caused by a malignant brain tumour and despite emergency surgery, was taken off life support and passed away at 10am yesterday, 13th June. Michelle was 29 years old and we were due to celebrate our third wedding anniversary next week.

Chelle was a beautiful intelligent person who added a spark to every room she was in. She loved science and business but her true love was animals - our six guinea pigs held a very special place in her heart. She was my partner in every way; the business we had created together got to where it was because of her spirit, determination, and the fact she always pushed us further.

Throughout this bleakest of times I take comfort from the fact that Michelle was the happiest she had ever been. We had just moved to a beautiful new home in the countryside which she loved, our businesses were doing incredibly well, our 11-week pregnancy (love you, bean) was healthy and we were due to have a puppy arrive in the next few weeks. It is no small mercy for her that she did not suffer with a drawn-out illness.

I will be forever grateful to the consultants, surgeons and nurses in Royal Preston Hospital neurosurgery and ICU for the incredible care they showed both Michelle and us.

Please donate to Brain Tumour Research to try and help more young people with brain tumours. I will forever appreciate any donation, no matter how small.

Love you forever, Chelle.