Page "Joe Swash" Paragraph 21

Swash's background is a mix of Irish, Scottish and Italian ( Swash's great-grandmother, Maria Christina Swash ( née Raimo ) ( 1899 – 1973 ) was Italian.

) He grew up in Islington in north London.

His father Ricky William Swash ( 1955 – 1994 ), a London cab driver, died of a heart attack when Swash was 12, and he and his two younger sisters, Caisie and Shana, were subsequently raised by their mother, Catherine M " Kiffy " ( née O ' Connor ), who had married Ricky ( sometimes mistakenly spelt as Riccie or Richky ) in 1978.

Swash has said that he is particularly close to his youngest sister Shana, as he took on a paternal role towards her following their father's death.

He has commented, " Shana's more than just a sister to me.

I look out for her.

If I go away, I miss her so much.

It was hard when my dad died – it was so sudden.

Shana was only little so it's been tough for her.

We've got a special connection there – we look the same and have the same personality [...] Dad dying made me grow up pretty fast – I've learned a lot from it.

And it makes you appreciate your family more.