Build a memorial to tragic star George
Cousin says fans need place to pay respects
George Michael’s cousin is urging the late singer’s family to build a memorial to the star and insisted: “He has been forgotten.”
George – who died on Christmas Day three years ago – is buried beside his mum Lesley in an unmarked grave with only a small headstone that still carries no inscription. Cousin Andros Georgiou says that must change so relatives can grieve properly for the singer, and insists a public memorial should be created for fans. He said: “I believe the family are planning to have a simple cross on George’s grave with nothing on it. There should be an inscription. It should be his nickname, Yog, and something like, ‘The man and his music’. That’s how we all knew him.
“That needs to happen for the friends and family, and the estate need to make that happen. The sooner the better really – it’s already been three years.”
The grave is in a private section of Highgate cemetery, north London.
Andros says George would not have wanted fans at his graveside. He added: “He was private in life and that’s how it should be in death. But a beautiful tree somewhere with a fence around it with flowers inside would be perfect.
“He loved walking, taking his dog out and he always loved flowers. Even planting trees in an area where fans could hang out and pay their respects would work well.”
A shrine that sprang up opposite George’s Highgate mansion was removed 18 months after his death, while a bid to put up a statue in the Oxfordshire village of Goring- on-Thames, near the home where he died, was rejected by councillors.
George’s dad Kyriacos and sisters Melanie and Yioda plan to leave his grave unmarked so they can mourn privately.
Andros, who had fallen out with George 17 years ago, visited the plot in 2017 and will return soon. He added: “We had a big bust-up over something stupid but we’d arranged to meet – on January 4, 2017.
“He died without us being able to discuss what happened. It was crushing.”