‘I cherish every moment with MY FAMILY'

As he approaches his 50th birthday, Aled Jones reveals why his children are his greatest achievement

-  HAYLEY MINN

He was the choirboy who shot to fame in 1985, at the age of 15, when he had a hit with his version of Walking in the Air (the original of which was featured in 1982’s animated film The Snowman).

Now, as Aled Jones prepares to celebrate his 50th birthday next month, he has revealed how the national lockdown has forced him to take stock of his life and appreciate what he has – especially his wife of 19 years, Claire Fossett, and his two children, Emilia, 18, and Lucas, 15.

‘I’m most thankful for my family, without a doubt,’ he tells us. ‘And, as I get older, now more than ever, I’m so aware of how precious they are.

‘When you’re growing up, you take things for granted, but I don’t do that now – I cherish every moment I get with them.’

He continues, ‘I’m lucky that I have two of the most loving, kind kids. They’re both polite, lovely and funny, and they’re both doing what they love.

‘I remember about four years ago, we went to Australia together on tour, my son was only a small boy – and now he’s about six foot!