Mike Tindall has announced the sad passing of his father, who had been bravely fighting Parkinson’s disease for many years.
The former England rugby player, married to Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall, revealed the news in the latest episode of the podcast he co-hosts, The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, alongside James Haskell and Alex Payne. He shared that his dad, Phil Tindall, passed away at the age of 79 last week.
During the show, host Alex Payne introduced a segment dedicated to “talking dads,” setting the tone for Mike’s heartfelt announcement: “Unfortunately, my dad passed away last week.”
READ MORE: Residents Raise Concerns Over Late-Night Extension at Cheltenham Wetherspoons
READ MORE: Down Ampney residents voice concerns over plans for 1,600 new homes
Phil Tindall was well-known in rugby circles, having captained Otley Rugby Club in West Yorkshire during the 1972 and 1973 seasons. To honour his memory, the club observed a minute’s silence before their recent match against Chester.
Mike expressed his gratitude to the club for the tribute, saying he had received footage of the silence and had read a commemorative message about his father in the match programme. “Big shout-out to Otley Rugby Club. They played Chester at the weekend and did a minute’s silence to my dad, who was captain in ’72, ’73,” he said. “That little moment, I got to watch it. Someone recorded it, sent it to me, and they wrote a little thing in the programme as well, which I read. But thank you very much to Otley Rugby Club for it.”
Reflecting on his father’s earlier life, Mike shared a poignant memory: “He got married in 1969, broke his leg the week before, and went down the aisle in a cast. It sort of all went wrong. He had to retire at 27.”
Phil Tindall had been living with Parkinson’s disease since 2003, the same year Mike helped England secure victory in the Rugby World Cup in Australia. The illness profoundly impacted Mike, who has been a patron of Cure Parkinson’s charity since 2018. He has actively campaigned to raise both awareness and funds for Parkinson’s research over the years.
Mike Tindall’s tribute highlights the enduring strength and love within his family as they remember Phil’s life and legacy.