SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE: Billionaire's whole family is struck with Lyme disease: Phones 4u founder admits to 'completely devastating' diagnosis

By Sebastian Shakespeare for the Daily Mail

Published: 19:21 EST, 21 September 2015 | Updated: 23:44 EST, 21 September 2015

He is one of the richest men in Britain, but Phones 4u founder John Caudwell is facing the crushing reality that money can’t buy you everything — especially not your family’s health.

Just days after announcing that his 20-year-old son Rufus, an aspiring musician, was diagnosed with the potentially fatal Lyme disease, the high-profile billionaire tells me that he himself has also been diagnosed with the ‘insidious’ infection, along with three more family members.

‘It’s completely devastating. I have no idea how it’s happened to my family,’ John, 62, tells me.  

Family illness: Phones 4u founder John Caudwell with his two daughters Rhiannon (right) and Rebecca (left)

Family illness: Phones 4u founder John Caudwell with his two daughters Rhiannon (right) and Rebecca (left)

‘When I heard my son had Lyme disease, it was after nine years of his suffering — with no symptoms that were obviously Lyme disease. It mimics other illnesses.’ 

Rufus, who tested positive in February this year, had previously been diagnosed with mental health problems including panic attacks and agoraphobia, which John says were, in fact, symptoms of Lyme disease.

Rufus’s mother is John’s first wife, Kathryn McFarlane, whom he divorced in 2001 and with whom he also has two daughters — Rebekah, 35, and Rhiannon, 27. All three have now tested positive as well.

‘It suggests it could be congenital or transmitted person to person,’ John says of the disease, which is widely believed to be spread by infected ticks.

John is only now disclosing their diagnoses, all of which were made in the past two months following Rufus’s, as he initially wanted to protect their privacy.

‘I just saw these as a couple of private illnesses that we’d got to deal with. But then when more of the family got diagnosed, I started looking into it. It could be affecting millions in Britain, it could be an epidemic.’

John, who lives in Shropshire, admits he’s lucky he can afford treatment. ‘The NHS isn’t doing enough. A lot of sufferers are selling their worldly goods to have private treatment. My heart bleeds for them.’

He adds that taking care of his son, who is bed-ridden, has been difficult. ‘With Rufus, it’s so far advanced that we’re fighting every minute of the day. I haven’t got a life.’

Just days after announcing that his 20-year-old son Rufus, an aspiring musician, was diagnosed with the potentially fatal Lyme disease, high-profile billionaire John Caudwell has admitted his whole family is infected

Just days after announcing that his 20-year-old son Rufus, an aspiring musician, was diagnosed with the potentially fatal Lyme disease, high-profile billionaire John Caudwell has admitted his whole family is infected

 

Schama on Civilisation

An intriguing development regarding the BBC’s Civilisation.

Those mooted to front a remake of Lord Clark’s 1969 documentary include Andrew Marr and British Museum director Neil MacGregor.

But rather than settle on one, the Beeb look set to select a team of presenters. One name almost certain to feature, I am told, is historian Simon Schama. When asked about it, he replies coyly: ‘You better ask the BBC.’

Yesterday, a BBC spokesman told me: ‘We will be announcing presenters for the series in due course.’

 

Kate Moss's louche lifestyle is to be immortalised on the big screen. I hear the forthcoming Absolutely Fabulous film’s plot will revolve around Moss being presumed drowned in the Thames after a wild night out with Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley’s hard-living characters Edina and Patsy.

Ab Fab: The Movie, which is due to be released next year, will also include a cameo role for comedian David Walliams, who shot his scenes near the Royal Albert Hall last week.

 

Three generations of Jagger

With seven children by four women scattered across the globe, not to mention five grandchildren and a great-granddaughter, a family reunion is a rare treat for wrinkly Rolling Stone Sir Mick Jagger.

But the 72-year-old recently caught up with five of his brood, including Gabriel, 17, and Georgia May, 23, whose mother is Jerry Hall; Jade, 43, from his marriage to Bianca Jagger, Jade’s son Ray, 15 months; Lucas, 16, whose mother is Brazilian TV host Luciana Gimenez; and 31-year-old Lizzy, also from his marriage to Jerry.

Sir Mick Jagger with (from left to right) Gabriel, 17, and Georgia May, 23, whose mother is Jerry Hall; Jade, 43, from his marriage to Bianca Jagger, Jade’s son Ray, 15 months; Lucas, 16, whose mother is Brazilian TV host Luciana Gimenez; and 31-year-old Lizzy, also from his marriage to Jerry

Sir Mick Jagger with (from left to right) Gabriel, 17, and Georgia May, 23, whose mother is Jerry Hall; Jade, 43, from his marriage to Bianca Jagger, Jade’s son Ray, 15 months; Lucas, 16, whose mother is Brazilian TV host Luciana Gimenez; and 31-year-old Lizzy, also from his marriage to Jerry

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