We can’t work it out: Fifth Beatle family feud explodes

THE rift tearing apart the family of ‘Fifth Beatle’ Sir George Martin has become even wider. The late producer’s son Giles has attacked his half-sister, Alexis Stratfold, for speaking about the ‘pittance’ she had been left in his will.

This paper revealed earlier this month that Alexis, from Sir George’s first marriage to Sheena, could expect to receive £68,250, while the rest of his estate — widely assumed to be huge — would go to his 87-year old widow, Judy.

And if his second wife Judy had died before Sir George, her as-yet-unquantified bequest would have gone to their children Lucie and Giles.

After Alexis spoke to the Mail, Giles, pictured below with his late father, sent a message to her saying: ‘Wow. This is sad. Dad didn’t have the fortune you crave. You have this wrong. I hope talking gives you some peace. It’s all about money.’

Alexis responded: ‘Yes it is sad, but your hypocrisy is breath-taking. You were effortlessly handed on a silver platter Dad’s entire empire and legacy with The Beatles, yet you dare to lecture me that it’s all about money. This is about fairness.’

It is the latest twist in the acrimonious row that has engulfed the family following the death of Sir George in March, aged 90. In 1962, Martin abandoned Sheena, his wife of 14 years, and their children Alexis and Greg, for a new life with his glamorous office secretary, Judy Lockhart Smith, who would become his second wife and mother of two more children.

What piqued Alexis in particular was that he left a £325,000 legacy — small enough to avoid UK inheritance tax — to be shared between her and his former chauffeur and secretary, as well as three grandchildren and a niece.

She described it as ‘the final act of our marginalisation by Dad’ and her son Saul added it was ‘a betrayal of his own family, and such a sad and unnecessary stain on his extraordinary legacy’.

Perhaps Alexis should count herself lucky. Her wayward brother Greg, with whom Sir George had a troubled relationship, was not left a penny.