Lost in aisle No 3, m’lady’s diamonds
Baron’s wife offers reward for return of heirloom that went astray during dash to local supermarket
A SUPERMARKET in Suffolk suddenly found itself the centre of attention when a 36-year-old “lady of the manor” reported she may have lost a priceless family heirloom there.
Lady Somerleyton, the wife of Hugh Crossley, 4th Baron Somerleyton, fears she lost the gold, diamond and emerald art deco pendant she was wearing when she popped into the Pakefield, Lowestoft, branch of Morrisons while on the school run. Staff have been asked to keep their eyes peeled as they clear shelves and sweep the floors.
Such was the importance attached to the pendant by Lord and Lady Somerleyton that they put an appeal in their local newspaper, urging anyone who might have found it to come forward, and offered a reward for its return.
Lord Somerleyton said: “My wife and I are devastated to have lost the pendant which is a family heirloom and therefore I have decided to offer a cash reward for its safe return, should someone find it.”
The fact that Lady Somerleyton, 36, does her shopping in Morrisons appears to have raised eyebrows in some quarters.
A source close to the family said: “For some reason great play has been made of the fact that it was Morrisons. It could have been lost in Morrisons. It could have been lost in the car park of the store or en route. The fact is the family would very much like it back.”
Some commenters on social media were less charitable. “What’s an aristocrat doing shopping at Morrisons? I thought Waitrose at least,” wrote one. Lindsay, a Twitter user, tweeted: “Feeling awful for Lady Somerleyton today as I too wear my priceless family heirlooms down the shop.”
And Julie Mcintyre contributed: “Let’s hope someone who uses foodbanks finds this.”
Lady Somerleyton, who was Lara Bailey before she married, met her husband after he had been impressed by an oil painting of her. They married in 2009 and have three children.
With a palatial stately home and a title dating back 100 years, the Somerleyton family, whose motto is “Everything that is good comes from above”, are well known in the area. Lady Somerleyton’s husband, Hugh Francis Savile Crossley, 4th Baron Somerleyton, is a restaurateur and hotel owner, with one restaurant in Norfolk and a hotel near Great Yarmouth.
In 2006, he hosted a music festival on the 5,000 acres surrounding Somerleyton Hall, the Grade Ii-listed family seat, though bad weather the following year led organisers to scrap the event.
As a child, Lord Somerleyton served as second page of honour to the Queen on state occasions.
The family title dates back to 1916, when it was created for Savile Crossley, 1st Baron Somerleyton, a Liberal Unionist politician who served as the government’s Paymaster General from 1902 to 1905.
Lady Somerleyton realised she was no longer wearing the pendant, which was attached to an 18-inch trace link chain, around 5pm on Monday Oct 9, shortly after picking up her children from school and visiting the supermarket. She had also visited the village of Henstead, about eight miles south of the family home, that day.
A reward is on offer for its return, though the Somerleyton family would not reveal the amount, and the loss has been reported to Suffolk Police and the family’s insurers.
A Morrisons spokesman said they were more than happy to help reunite Lady Somerleyton with the pendant, thought to be worth several thousand pounds. Similar pendants can be bought for around £4,000. Anyone who finds the pendant, or knows its whereabouts, should contact the Somerleyton Estate on 01502 734901 or email emily.moxey@ somerleyton.co.uk.