Soul diva’s battle over mementoes stored in garage
SEVENTIES singer Sheila Ferguson is locked in a legal fight over a garage where she stores her collection of Three Degrees mementoes.
The American, 73, is concerned that building work next to the lockups could cause them to collapse.
Sheila, a one-time friend of Prince Charles, lived at Bray in Berkshire during her 24-year marriage to British businessman Christopher Robinson and continues to keep records and other memorabilia there.
The pair have been battling developer Gordon Naylor since he started to demolish a £1.4million house behind the garages and dug out land to build a multimillion pound fourbedroom riverside home.
Their barrister Nicholas Isaac QC told Central London County Court the work is “clearly threatening the structural integrity” of the garages.
In addition, he insisted a fence has been erected and materials piled up, stopping access to the property.
The former couple have applied for a court order which would see the work stopped until they have agreed exactly what it entails, with safeguards to protect the garages, on which they have long leases.
Mr Naylor has planning permission for a redevelopment of the site in the private road in which celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal has his famous Fat Duck gastropub.
Work started in November allegedly without the couple’s consent or a valid Party Wall Award in place.
Fencing was put up, allegedly preventing access to the garages, and Mr Isaac claimed workmen had excavated behind the walls of the garages, digging below their foundations. He added: “Mr Naylor has cynically decided to ignore his obligations.”
Judge Nicholas Parfitt ordered that Mr Naylor must allow access by a surveyor to evaluate the risks to the buildings. The case on the application for a full injunction was adjourned.
Mum-of-two Sheila was lead vocalist from 1966 to 1986 of all-girl group The Three Degrees, who had seven UK Top 40 hits, including the 1974 single When Will I See You Again.
She was one of Prince Charles’ favourite singers and performed at his 30th birthday party in 1978.
Sheila, invited to his wedding with Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, has denied rumours she and the Prince were romantically involved.