The 'Fifth Beatle', an unpublished will and a family being torn apart
The family of Sir George Martin, the late record producer known as the "Fifth Beatle", is being torn apart because of a dispute over his will, it has been reported.
Alexis Stratfold, one of two children from Martin's first marriage has described her inheritance of £68,250 as "a pittance". Martin, who died earlier this year at the age of 90, reportedly left £325,000 – an amount small enough to avoid UK inheritance tax – to be shared between Alexis and a number of others, including his former chauffeur, three grandchildren and a niece. Martin's eldest son, Greg, brother of Alexis, was written out of the will entirely.
The family feud has erupted because the remainder of Martin's estate has, it is understood, gone to his 87-year-old widow, Judy Lockhart Smith, with whom Martin had two more children, Lucie and Giles.
"There were so many examples I could cite over the years both big and small, of how we were... treated as second class compared to you two and your kids," wrote Alexis in an email to Lucie, which has been seen by the Daily Mail.
"I know it is an uncomfortable thought for you to address but let us not beat about the bush here: the inequality is stark. "The amount of £68,000 is... a pittance compared with what Dad owned. Do you and Giles honestly expect to receive the same amount from Dad’s estate? I urge you to think about this fairly.’
Martin, who signed the Beatles, left his wife, Sheena, and two children, Alexis and Giles, in 1962, in order to marry Judy.
By: Rupert Hawksley
Source: The Telegraph
