Brother of Diana’s ‘love triangle rival’ dies after a lifetime of drug-riddled tragedy before he was redeemed by marriage

Brother of Diana's 'love triangle rival' dies after a lifetime of drug-riddled tragedy before he was redeemed by marriage

In reflecting upon the life of Viscount Pollington, a man who once seemed to have it all, I cannot help but feel a profound sense of empathy and admiration for his resilience and redemption. Born into privilege, he grappled with the demons that so often lurk beneath the surface of wealth and status.


At first glance, he appeared to possess everything desirable: inheriting an earldom, owning approximately 20,000 acres in Yorkshire, and attending the prestigious Ampleforth school, which boasted Rupert Everett among its alumni, for a yearly fee of around £46,740.

However, the life of the late Viscount Pollington, who passed away at 64, serves as a poignant lesson that there are many things in life that hold greater significance than inherited titles and wealth.

Prior to his redemptive marriage at the age of 58, Johnny Pollington, the eldest son of the 8th Earl of Mexborough, had appeared to be shaped primarily by a series of misfortunes.

These events started when Elizabeth, daughter of the 6th Earl of Verulum and formerly his wife, divorced and moved Johnny and his younger sister Alethea away from Arden Hall, their family estate in Yorkshire, to live in London. Unfortunately, she developed alcoholism and depression, often needing breakfast delivered to her bed as early as 4am due to these conditions.

According to an upper-class acquaintance, Johnny’s early years were quite challenging. He often suffered from persistent coughs and runny noses.

Brother of Diana's 'love triangle rival' dies after a lifetime of drug-riddled tragedy before he was redeemed by marriage

In adulthood both Johnny and Alethea experimented with narcotics. 

It appeared as if these circumstances significantly strengthened Alethea’s conviction that she was ensnared in a love triangle with her former fiancé, James Gilbey, and his close friend, the late Diana, Princess of Wales, whom Gilbey affectionately called ‘Squidgy’.

Alethea’s reliance on drugs resulted in her father withdrawing her financial support, and it caused Gilbey to terminate their connection.

Later on, Alethea expressed that she was deeply affected by the revelation of the supposed ‘Squidgy Tapes’ – secretly recorded discussions between Gilbey and the Princess of Wales. In these tapes, Gilbey told Diana affectionately, “Oh Squidgy, I love you.

In September 1994, Johnny Pollington tragically discovered his sister deceased in her apartment in Chelsea. She was the unfortunate victim of a lethal combination of heroin, cocaine, and antidepressants.

Instead of informing about her death, he chose to pursue a solo quest to track down the individuals who had provided her with the harmful substances.

The incident concluded with a physical altercation at a residence in Barnes, located in south-west London. Following this, he headed to a nearby pub where he consumed around three or four strong drinks.

Alcohol didn’t bring him mental tranquility. The subsequent year saw his arrest, following threats to murder patrons at the Grove Tavern, located in London’s Knightsbridge area.

He was ordered to do 100 hours community service and put on probation for two years.

Brother of Diana's 'love triangle rival' dies after a lifetime of drug-riddled tragedy before he was redeemed by marriage

Back in the late ’90s, I found myself holed up in a cozy flat near the boundary of Chelsea and Knightsbridge. There, my companions and I would spend our days engrossed in the company of crack cocaine, often dispatching our trusty butler to acquire more of it for us.

People were worried that’s how his life story could conclude. However, even though he kept company with an old acquaintance, Dominic French, who frequently found himself behind bars, Pollington managed to steer clear of a similar destiny.

In the year 2017, he developed a deep affection for divorcee Norma Phoenix, a highly skilled photographer and former counselor.

The year after that, they got married. A close friend of hers shared with me that she was deeply committed to him, revealing that Norma – who was an exceptionally kind individual – endured numerous hardships and challenges for her spouse.

At the start of this year, Norma expressed that Johnny’s cancer diagnosis was like an unforgettable and thrilling rollercoaster ride.

She informed her friends that both his physical and emotional suffering are beyond comparison, and they’re cherishing each moment of their time left together, as they seem to complement each other exceptionally well.

One of her friends commented, “She was always by his side at Trinity Hospice,” which speaks to the fact that her faith in him remained steadfast.

Apart from Norma, he also leaves behind his 93-year-old father and a half-brother and half-sister, who are products of his father’s second marriage.

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2024-10-31 05:04

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