Inheritance From Maugham

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30945, 29 December 1965, Page 12

Inheritance From Maugham

(From SUSAN VAUGHAN] LONDON,

A bitter family row marred Somerset Maugham’s relations with his only child. Lady Glendevon. In 1960, she renounced her claims to rights in and royalties from his works, partly on the understanding that she would receive his collection of paintings. But later Maugham sold the pictures for more than £500,000. Then there was the dispute over Maugham’s decision to adopt Alan Searle, his secretary and companion for over 35 years. The adoption was challenged by Lady Glendevon and a French court annulled it. Later Maugham dropped an appeal he had planned. Lady Glendevon’s mother was Syrie Bamardo, daughter of the famous doctorphilantropist who died in 1905. Her marriage to Maugham was dissolved in 1929 on the ground of incompatibility. She died in 1955. Lady Glendevon, bom in

1915, was formerly married to Colonel Vincent Paravioini, son of a Swiss diplomat, by whom she had two children. The marriage was dissolved in 1947.

In 1948, she married Lord Glendevon, the younger twin son of the second Marquess of Linlithgow, and had two more children. Her older children each received £60,000 from their famous grandfather and the younger ones £lO,OOO each. Lady Glendevon herself owns the bulk of the shares in her father’s Cap Ferrat estate and will receive his estate in the United States, said to be worth more than two million dollars.

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