Renouf reunion rumours wrong

Press, 25 January 1988, Page 4

Renouf reunion rumours wrong

By

ROBERT LOWE

NZPA Sydney Lady Renouf has refused to leave the Sydney harbourside mansion, Paradis sur Mer, despite an order to do so from her husband, the financier, Sir Francis Renouf, according to a statement from Sir Francis’ lawyer.

Lady Renouf returned to the Point Piper property last Tuesday after the death of her father, Sir John Rossiter. She and Sir Francis arrived together at Sir John’s funeral on Thursday amid rumours of a reconciliation. However, a lawyer, Mr Paul McCann, said on Saturday that Sir Francis acknowledged that the rift in the marriage could not be patched up.

He said Sir'Francis had asked Lady Renouf and her daughter Anne, by her first marriage to the Australian politician, Mr Andrew Peacock, to leave Paradis sur Mer, but she had refused. Mr McCann’s statement came after one from Lady Renouf’s solicitor, Mr Graeme Aarons, who also said there would be no reconciliation.

“Lady Renouf recently returned to Point Piper in an endeavour to achieve a reconciliation with Sir Frank,” Mr Aarons said. “She has earnestly tried to meet his terms and continued discussions with him, notwithstanding her distress after the death of her father. “However, discussions have broken down and there will be no reconciliation.

“Lady Renouf is currently residing at Point Piper.”

Mr McCann said Sir Francis proposed to make no comment “on the accuracy or otherwise of Lady Renouf’s views on her efforts to resolve the rift in the marriage. "For his part, and notwithstanding the difficulties in their marriage, Sir Francis extended to Lady Renouf and her family a

number of concessions on the unfortunate death of Lady Renouf’s father,” Mr McCann aid. “Sir Francis acknowledges there is no possibility of resolving their marriage. Having reached this position, Sir Francis requested Lady Renouf and her daughter Anne to leave Sir Francis’ Point Piper home. “Unfortunately, Lady Renouf has refused this request.” Sir Francis bought Paradis sur Mer, formerly known as Toison d’Or, from Lady Renouf’s second husband, the British racehorse owner, Mr Robert Sangster, for sAustB million ($8.5 million) in November, 1985.

The couple had been married two months and Lady Renouuf said at the time: “I would like to tell

the world that my darling Frank bought it for the love of me.”

Since the marriage break-up, the mansion, now estimated-to be worth up to sAustls million ($l6 million), has been the subject of bitter legal action between the couple. On November 24, Lady Renouf placed’ caveats on the property, two days before sending her husband a letter saying the marriage was over. She left Paradis sur Mer two weeks later for her country residence at Mittagong, and was prevented from entering the mansion when she returned the next week-end. The caveats have since been lifted by court order, but the legal battle over Paradis sur Mer is due to resume in the Australian Family Court in Sydney next month.