Bert Newton’s bond with grandson Alby keeping him in good spirits
Much-loved TV personality Bert Newton has been undergoing tests in hospital, but special bonds have been keeping him in high spirits.
Fiona Byrne
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At just three months old, Alby James Newton Welsh is an inspiration to his besotted grandfather, Bert Newton.
Alby is the TV legend’s sixth grandchild but there is already a special bond between the two.
Alby is named after Newton, who is known by his family and closest friends as Alby.
His grandchildren — Sam, Eva, Lola, Monty, Perla and Alby — have been helping to keep Newton’s spirits up as he undergoes tests in hospital.
“They phone him at the hospital and have sent him pictures to put on the wall,” Newton’s wife, Patti, said.
“They all adore their Poppy. We are so lucky.”
Patti (with Newton, inset) said Newton was emotional and so honoured when he was first told by his daughter, Lauren, that Alby was named after him.
“It is a lovely legacy and it means so much to him,” she said. “They are going to be quite a team.”
Newton, 82, is expected to stay in hospital until early next week before moving on to do some physical rehabilitation to improve his strength and fitness.
He underwent quadruple heart bypass surgery in 2012 and in recent years has had several bouts of pneumonia.
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