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Shirley Conran Leaves Fortune to Estranged Son

BBG News

Shirley Conran, renowned as both the Lace and Superwoman author, and a woman separated from her fashion designer son Jasper Conran for ten years, chooses to bequeath half of her wealth to him upon her passing.

She mentioned that it took her twenty years to amass a significant wealth, a journey that started with her as a divorced woman with no money, raising two young sons on her own, and culminated in her achieving the stature of a superhero-like figure.

Indeed, that was the title of her inaugural book, which reigned supreme on the bestseller charts for a staggering four months. This remarkable achievement catapulted her into acquiring a splendid chateau near Cannes, as well as three lavish apartments in Monaco. By 1994, she had earned herself a place among the wealthiest women in Britain.

However, Shirley Conran, highly esteemed by the Daily Mail for founding ‘Femail’, subsequently spent approximately two decades donating a significant portion of her accumulated wealth. Many of these gifts were directed towards furthering women’s causes or acts of philanthropy. An example includes funding a new Modern Art Collection at her former school, St Paul’s Girls’ School.

A year following her passing at the age of 91, and only a week after being honored with a Damehood in the hospital, it has been revealed this week that her last will reflects her commitment.

Shirlie donated £2.5 million, a modest portion of her accumulated wealth, which grew following a £1 million advance for her novel “Lace.” This generous act took place only seven years after the release of “Superwoman,” where she famously said, “Life is too short to stuff a mushroom.”

As a devoted admirer, I’m proud to have been part of the initial wave that celebrated the release of “Lace,” the groundbreaking novel which launched my author’s career and went on to become known as the first ‘bonkbuster’. Over the next fifteen years, I penned five more novels in quick succession, each one a testament to my commitment to providing captivating stories.

By 2022, when she drafted her will, there neither existed a chateau nor any apartments within Monaco.

Or:
In her 2022 will, the properties in question – a chateau and an apartment within Monaco – were nowhere to be found.

I found myself residing in two distinct apartments, both nestled within the vibrant precincts of Bayswater, the western heart of London. One of these abodes was home to the esteemed Dame Shirley until her unfortunate ailment took her away.

In my expert opinion, I’m passing down two unique pieces to my grandsons, Sam and Max. They are the sons of Sebastian, who is Dame Shirley’s eldest son by the late Sir Terence Conran – a man she often referred to as the love of her life, despite our tumultuous divorce in 1962, following seven blissful years of marriage.

The rest of her estate will be evenly divided among Sebastian and his youthful, fashion-designing sibling, Jasper, who is 65 years old.

The final point serves as a powerful demonstration of Shirley Conran’s unwavering determination not to surrender, as she and Jasper remained publicly distant from each other for over a decade starting from 2002.

But they were reconciled in 2015 when Jasper married Irish artist, Oisin Byrne.

 

Despite founding the renowned Mexican restaurant chain, Wahaca, Thomasina Miers has found herself at odds with modern sensitivities and inclusivity standards, often referred to as political correctness.

The victor of MasterChef previously stated: “I find the ongoing discussion about culinary boundaries quite intriguing. I have penned a fresh cookbook titled ‘Mexican Table,’ but my publishing company is hesitant to market it in the United States, fearing potential accusations of cultural appropriation.

Ay caramba!

 

Ashcroft’s next target: Farage

On a playful note, Michael Ashcroft unveiled his revised biography of the Prime Minister, titled “Red Flag,” at Westminster.

He was playfully hinting at a big mystery about Sir Keir Starmer,” or “He was subtly suggesting a secret about Sir Keir Starmer,” or “He was implying a hidden truth about Sir Keir Starmer in a joking manner.” He acknowledged the unnamed sources who had provided him with information.

As I gaze around this evening’s gathering, I find myself reflecting on the esteemed company gracing my presence. Among these remarkable individuals is none other than Nick Brown, a seasoned figure who has served as the chief whip for no less than five Labour leaders.

Ashcroft is assured of full co-operation on his next book – analysing the rise of Reform. 

He emphasized that we have a deal – I’m excited about our collaboration ahead, specifically mentioning my distinguished guest, Nigel Farage.

 

He rarely missed opportunities to catch balls while playing for England as a wicket-keeper. Similarly, Jack Russell, who was once hailed as the world’s best wicketkeeper by the renowned cricket publication Wisden, seldom allowed chances to pass him by, performing with great skill.

Eager to honor British war veterans by creating an enduring tribute, he finds immense satisfaction in a recently completed portrait of Squadron Leader Johnny Johnson – the lone survivor of the Dambusters Raid.

He shares with me that he had been searching for him across the country for quite some time, and he tracked him down in August 2022 – surprisingly living just a few miles away from where I am, in Bristol.

Three months after Johnson’s passing, at the age of 101, there was sufficient time left for Russell, who was 61 years old, to finish the portrait.

He asserts, ‘It was an absolute pleasure,’ referring to the captivating experience of conversing with him and being enthralled by his extraordinary life narrative.

 

Poppy Delevingne pulls out of movie project 

This month, Poppy Delevingne eagerly anticipates the arrival of her first baby, yet regrettably, she has experienced a setback in her career.

I hear that the model and actress, 39, has left the cast of US film The Gun On Second Street. 

Last year, the director, Rohit Karn Batra, shared with me his decision to cast Poppy. He explained that he aimed to select an individual who embodied sophistication yet retained a distinctive West Virginia accent.

Now, however, he says: ‘Poppy is no longer a part of the production.’ 

At a gathering during the Cannes Film Festival hosted by the DDA, he announced that the part was being given to Sean Penn’s daughter, Dylan, who is 34 years old.

Poppy’s spokesman insists it was her decision to move away from the project.

 

First family wedding in a century at Liverpool’s Knowsley Hall as the Earl and Countess of Derby’s only daughter gets engaged

The Epsom Derby is not for three weeks, but the Earl of Derby’s family are already celebrating.

I hear that the Earl and Countess’s only daughter, Lady Henrietta Stanley, has got engaged.

28-year-old Hetty, affectionately called by her friends, will wed Alexander ‘Sasha’ Reviakin, who is a relative of the renowned newspaper tycoon William Berry, the 1st Viscount Camrose.

‘They met last year at the National Portrait Gallery,’ a friend tells me.

Sasha, a student at the prestigious Winchester College that costs around 52,000 pounds annually, is the sole child born to Russian art collector Sergei Reviakin and artist Rosanna Gardner.

I was delighted to learn that Sasha has asked Hetty to marry him, as Lord Derby shared with me. Ever since they began dating a year ago, she’s been glowing with happiness.

The pair will be getting married at Knowsley Hall, a historical estate belonging to Lady Henrietta’s ancestors, which is located close to Liverpool. Notably, it’s also home to the popular Knowsley Safari Park, established by the earl’s uncle in 1971.

Lord Derby expresses his anticipation, saying it’s going to be quite a thrill to organize a family wedding at Knowsley Hall, as it seems like more than a hundred years have passed since such an event took place there.

The Epsom Derby, in Surrey, was established by the 12th Earl in 1718.

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2025-05-15 02:21

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