Sargent House for sale
By astonishing coincidence Malcolm Sargent’s old home has just gone on the market, writes Stephen Houston.
Sir Malcolm’s estate actually sold the Buckinghamshire pile in 1970 to singing star Cilla Black for £ 40,000.
The eight- bedroom mansion, complete with 16 acres of clipped grounds, is being sold with a price tag of £ 4.35 million.
It is a cruel irony that the charity set up in the famous composer’s name is now planning to sell the Prestwick mansion.
And one source said: “You couldn’t make it up – this house hasn’t been for sale for 46 years and yet is now for sale as the charity flounders.”
His name has been sullied in Scotland as the charity wants to axe the Prestwick seafront holiday home after it amassed huge debts.
Sir Harold Malcolm Watts Sargent was a conductor and co- founder of the London Philharmonic.
Until his death in 1967 he had been chief conductor of The Proms for nearly 20 years and was a serial womaniser with the nickname “Flash Harry”.
Cilla died aged 72 in August after falling at her home in Estepona, in Spain.
Her secluded home has only now gone on the market.
The 10,000 square foot house has eight beds, four bathrooms, three reception areas and a snooker room.
There are six garages, a covered swimming pool and sauna and a tennis court. The grounds include a pond, woodland and a stream.
CLIC Sargent was formed in 2005 from a merger between CLIC and Sargent Cancer Care for Children.
Sargent Cancer Care for Children was founded in 1968 by Sylvia Darley OBE as a lasting memory to the late Sir Malcolm.