'Being able to hear the voice of a lost loved one can be a huge comfort'

Rugby League legend Rob Burrow, 37, has been talking movingly about having Motor Neurone Disease.

The Leeds star received his devastating diagnosis in December and was told he may have just one or two years to live.

Before that this cruel illness will rob him of his voice – the ability to talk and laugh with his wife Lindsey, and children Macy, Jackson and Maya.

So Rob has been spending time recording phrases so he can “speak” to them, with an automated communication aid.

Just simple things like “stop doing that” and “get down” as “they’re the normal things I say as dad.”

And, of course, he’s recorded “I love you” – although Lindsey and the kids won’t ever need reminding of that, I’m sure, not even when he’s gone.

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But being able to hear the voice of a lost loved one can be a huge comfort.

I recently stumbled across a tape-recording of my Mum back in the 1970s, singing, laughing and chatting to me in the kitchen.

Just the normal things she used to say, as a Mum.

But I’ll treasure her voice forever.