Jeff Brazier “totally stunned” by the loss of Jade Goody’s £1million legacy

<p>

Jeff(1)

by Rhiannon Evans |
Published on

Jeff Brazier, the father of Jade Goody’s two sons – Bobby and Freddie – has spoken of his shock at the news that the £1million the Reality Star left for her sons could be wiped out by the tax man.

This Morning presenter Jeff said he was “totally stunned” and added that he would do his best to keep the boys in the private school their mum had hoped the money would pay for.

Speaking to The Sun, Jeff said Jade started putting money aside as soon as she was told she had cervical cancer in 2008.

He said: “The first thing she did was work out how much it would cost to put the boys through private education until they were 16. The answer was £260,000.

“In her last months that was what drove her on, even when she was so weak and in terrible pain. It was all that mattered to her. She so desperately wanted them to have the upbringing she had never had.

“I think it was a great comfort to her to know that at the end she had managed to raise the money to give them it. To learn that it might be gone is just unthinkable.”

Jade and sons Bobby and Freddie
Jade and sons Bobby and Freddie

Jade sadly died on Mother’s Day in 2009, aged 27 – now, the taxman is looking to clear out the trust she set up after ruling expenses and losses made on her Ugly beauty salon in Essex, do not qualify for tax relief.

“Their school bills were paid directly by the trust,” said Jeff. “I would have hoped the money would be ringfenced. I thought it was safe from the taxman.”

However, a trustee has claimed there is only enough money to pay for their fees until the end of the year.

“If the trust does go then I will do my best to pay for their education myself,” said Jeff. “She made sacrifices for them to go to their school and so will I.

“They have had five years of excellent education thanks to Jade. But if it comes to it and they have to go to good state schools, then so be it.

“They go to a private school because that’s what Jade wanted but I am sure they would be just as happy at a state one.”

He added: “I know it’s all a mess. The trouble with Jade, as I know only too well, was that she wasn’t good at taking advice. If you tried to tell her something it would go in one ear and out the other. But I’m not angry at her, or the situation.

Jade and Jeff in 2003

“Jade did as much as she could have done. Her aim was to leave as much as she could for the boys. And she did. She was not aware of tax and how it could affect the trust.

“I don’t hate the taxman, he is doing his job. I just hope they can come to another view about this.

“To be honest, the only person she would be blaming for this is herself. She would be kicking herself right now that she hadn’t ensured that everything was in order — that the right tax had been paid, the paperwork done.

Speaking about Bobbie, nine, and Freddie, eight, Jeff said he was glad their mum was such a public figure.

“They can Google her and find a thousand images. They laugh at some and ask me about others. After the tax story broke, a lady sent me a tweet saying, ‘Your sons’ mum definitely saved my life through raising awareness of cervical cancer.’ What a great story to be able to tell the boys.”

Jeff also revealed the boys no longer see Jack Tweed, who married Jade just before she died. “Jack has more memories of Jade to share with the boys than I do," he said. "He could sit and talk to them for days about her. And I really want that to happen.

“But not at the moment. Not until I feel it is the right time.”

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us