Shirley Watts, wife of late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie has died

Charlie Watts’ wife Shirley has died aged 82 following a short illness – 16 months after the Rolling Stones drummer lost his battle with cancer

Charlie Watts’ wife Shirley has died aged 82 following a short illness – 16 months after the Rolling Stones drummer lost his battle with cancer. 

In a statement released on Monday, their children announced that Shirley was ‘reunited with her beloved Charlie’.

They wrote: ‘It is with great sadness that Seraphina, Charlotte and Barry announce the death of their much-loved mother, grandmother and mother-in law Shirley Watts.

Sad loss: Shirley Watts, wife of late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie has died aged 82 following a short illness, it was announced on Monday – the couple’s final picture together

‘Shirley died peacefully on Friday 16th December in Devon after a short illness surrounded by her family. 

‘She will be also sadly missed by her sisters Jackie and Jill, and her brother Stephen.

‘Reunited now forever with her beloved Charlie.’

Born Shirley Ann Shepherd in September 1938, she was studying sculpture at the Royal College of Art in 1961 when she met Charlie Watts who was then a graphic designer and part time jazz musician. 

They married in 1964. 

Together: The Rolling Stones drummer met his wife in 1961, and they married three years later

Four years later Shirley gave birth to their daughter, Seraphina. Shirley and Charlie moved to Devon eventually where she ran a world class Arabian stud farm, becoming highly respected as a breeder and show person in the International Arabian horse community.

Throughout her 57-year marriage to the Rolling Stones drummer, Shirley remained the love of his life and their love remained constant throughout the years. 

Shirley was an accomplished sculptor and huge supporter of animal rescue.

Eye-catching: The couple are pictured with their daughter Seraphina at Mick Jagger’s 50th birthday party on 18 July 1993

During an interview with NME, Charlie once explained: ‘I don’t have all the trappings of that. Having said that, I do have four vintage cars and can’t drive the bloody things.’

‘She is an incredible woman,’ Charlie once said, speaking of his wife. ‘The one regret I have of this life is that I was never home enough. But she always says when I come off tour that I am a nightmare and tells me to go back out.’ 

Charlie has also credited Shirley and their daughter Seraphina for saving his life when he appeared to get swept up in one aspect of the rock and roll lifestyle – drugs.

Speaking of the early Eighties he said: ‘I became totally another person. At the end of two years on speed and heroin, I was very ill.

‘My daughter used to tell me I looked like Dracula. I nearly lost my wife and everything over my behaviour. I went mad, really. I nearly killed myself.’

Icons: Along with Jagger and Richards, Watts featured on every one of the band’s studio albums. Pictured in 2016 (L-R) Watts, Wood, Richards and Jagger

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