Family row over George Michael memorabilia, including Faith guitar, as Sworders auction goes ahead

Centre · 2A family row has broken out over an auction on Thursday 29 October of George Michael memorabilia, including the guitar he played in the 1987 Faith music video. 1 2 Centre · 1Sworders is selling 32 lots from the collection of Siobhan Bailey, Michael's personal assistant for 20 years from 1984, who died in 2014. Her estranged husband, Ian Belcher, inherited the items and is selling them. 1 Centre · 1Her brother, Gerard Bailey, told the BBC she "would be horrified at the prospect of the auction being held in her name and that her personal, cherished possessions are being sold off to the highest bidder". He accused Belcher of deciding to "cash in" 12 years after her death. 1

Centre · 2In a letter to the auction house seen by the BBC, Gerard Bailey called the sale a "breach of [Siobhan's] privacy" and the use of her name "disingenuous". He asked for the auction to be stopped or held in Belcher's name instead. 1 2 Centre · 2Siobhan Bailey was divorcing Belcher when she died suddenly of natural causes aged 56, but was still legally married to him, and she left no will. Her brother says she had begun drawing up a will that would have left the items to her nieces and nephews, but it was not registered. He acknowledges that Belcher has a legal right to sell. 1 2 Centre · 2Both Sworders and Belcher declined to comment to the BBC. A Sworders spokesperson later said: "We are not well placed to comment on a family matter, but such disputes are not uncommon in the auction business. In this case, as the BBC article makes clear, the legal title of the collection is not in question." The Standard reported Belcher was unavailable for comment. 1 2

Centre · 2The guitar is a Gretsch Synchromatic that Michael reportedly bought in a Los Angeles shop shortly before the video. Gerard Bailey says Michael gave it to his sister as a gift because he "thought so much of her". The BBC reports an estimate of £60,000 to £120,000; the Standard says it is expected to fetch more than £100,000, and the whole archive more than £200,000. 1 2 Centre · 2Other lots include a Filofax from the 1988 Faith tour with Siobhan's notes, which had a guide price of up to £600 and a bid of £1,750 at the time of the BBC report. They also include a 1985 Live Aid running order, tour itineraries, signed photographs, rare cassettes and acetates, and gold and platinum discs, including a gold disc for Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go estimated at £200 to £500. 1 2 Centre · 2Michael, who rose to fame with Wham! alongside Andrew Ridgeley and had 13 UK number one singles, died on Christmas Day 2016 aged 53. 1 2