18 April 2023 , 11:37
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Andrew Lloyd Webber has recalled the final moments he spent with his son Nick before his tragic death last month.
The Little Prince composer was just 43 when he died after losing his battle with cancer.
Andrew, 75, dedicated the final curtain call of Phantom of the Opera on Broadway to his beloved son, after writing a poignant piece about his last moments.
He shared: '"An apple a day, if well aimed, keeps the doctor away." I was speaking in P.G. Wodehouse quotes with my eldest son, Nick, who was in hospice, where he was being treated for cancer just days ago.'
'"Here's one for you," said Nick, laughing. "Has anybody ever seen a dramatic critic in the daytime? Of course not. They come out after dark, up to no good." We hugged and said our goodbyes.
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Andrew Lloyd Webber has recalled the final moments he spent with his son Nick (left)
The composer said 'nothing is worse for a parent than the death of a child' (PA)"The next day, my son died. Nothing's worse for a parent than the death of a child," reports The New York Times.
The veteran composer went on to say that it felt 'wrong in his bones' to write about Broadway just days after his bereavement, but felt he still owed 'everything' to his 'love of glorious musicals'.
Concluding his essay, noting 'this has been a season of goodbyes, personal and public', the composer said he hoped Broadway would "rediscover its appetite for new scores".
Nick was a talented composer in his own right (WireImage)Andrew confirmed his eldest son had died in a tweet last month, writing: 'I am shattered to have to announce that my beloved elder son Nick died a few hours ago in Basingstoke Hospital.
"His whole family is gathered together and we are all totally bereft. - ALW."
After watching his dad become one of the most acclaimed composers in the West End, Nick chose to follow in his father's footsteps - knowing he also wanted to become a composer from a young age.
Andrew with his eldest sonNick went on to write Fat Friends The Musical, scored music for an adaption of The Little Prince as well as composing numerous TV and film scores, including for the BBC1 drama Loves, Lies, and Records.
Prior to his son's death, Andrew took to social media, tweeting: "I am absolutely devastated to say that my eldest son Nick is critically ill.
"As my friends and family know, he has been fighting gastric cancer for the last 18 months and Nick is now hospitalised.
"We are all praying that Nick will turn the corner. He is bravely fighting with his indomitable humour, but at the moment my place is with him and the family".
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