'Shane will always be the light I hold before me': Victoria Mary Clarke on her husband's romantic soul

Victoria Mary Clarke and Shane McGowan in 2012 Picture: Marc O'Sullivan

Shane MacGowan's death on Thursday was announced on Instagram by his wife Victoria Mary Clarke, his soulmate, spokesperson, confidante and carer since they first met in a North London pub in 1984.

"I don’t know how to say this so I am just going to say it. Shane who will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful angel and the sun and the moon and the start and end of everything that I hold dear has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese," she wrote.