Feud over Spike Milligan's gravestone

Published Sunday, 17 June 2012
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Late British comedian Spike Milligan's grave has gone unmarked for a year following a bitter family feud.

Feud over Spike Milligan's gravestone

The star passed away in 2002 and he was buried in a plot at St Thomas's Church in East Sussex, south England, with his famous quip "I told you I was ill" written in Gaelic on the stone.

His third wife Shelagh Sinclair was buried alongside him last June, but his son James, from a previous relationship, is fuming after Sinclair's relatives demanded her names and dates were added to the gravestone.

As a result, the site has gone unmarked since Sinclair's passing.

James tells the Mail on Sunday newspaper: "It's always been abundantly clear what my father wanted written on his headstone. It's bad enough the stone has not been on his grave for a year, and now to find out Shelagh's family are trying to add an inscription is infuriating and totally unacceptable.

"My family feels my father's wishes are not being respected and it's absolutely outrageous. I am prepared to take legal action over this. I have spoken to the vicar and he has told me the wording cannot be changed if there's a dispute so I'm hopeful it won't be allowed."

Solicitor Kevin Harper, the executor of Sinclair's will, adds: "We are establishing the wording to put on the gravestone in relation to Shelagh. It's likely to be just her name and the dates relevant to her life and death. The gravestone will be back soon."

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