Found shot dead outside his home, brother of bag designer Lulu Guinness
THE brother of the handbag designer Lulu Guinness has been found dead outside his upmarket country home.
Simon Rivett-Carnac, 53, a partner in a top London-based financial investment firm, died of a severe brain injury following a gunshot to the head.
Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.
Mr Rivett-Carnac was found dead yards away from his home in Charlbaronetcy. ton, near Malmesbury, Wiltshire, while his wife, Sarah, was reportedly inside.
Colleagues at the specialist asset manager Sarasin & Partners, where he worked for 20 years, described the father-oftwo as ‘wonderful’.
In a statement, the firm said: ‘Simon was a wonderful colleague and friend and will be remembered for many qualities not least his outstanding sense of humour.
‘His passing will leave a huge hole in the lives of so many people and our thoughts are with his wife and their two sons.’ It is understood a gardener raised the alarm at the home.
An inquest, opened at Salisbury, Wiltshire, on Friday was told that he was found dead at 11.45am on December 6 after a shotgun had been discharged.
The inquest was adjourned with the full hearing due to continue on a date to be fixed.
Mr Rivett-Carnac was the son of Sir Miles Rivett-Carnac, a naval officer who made a successful second career as a merchant banker with Baring Brothers.
He and his wife April had three children – Lucinda, better known as the handbag designer Lulu Guinness – Simon and Jonathan.
Mrs Guinness is famed for her handbags which are loved by the likes of Madonna, Jerry Hall and the Duchess of York.
Following Sir Miles’ death Jonathan succeeded in the
Simon’s wife, Sarah, is an artist and planting consultant ‘inspired by the landscapes’ around her including ‘the countryside of the west of England’.
There was no answer at the family home in west London yesterday.
At the end of last week Lulu Guinness shared a picture of a handkerchief on her personal Instagram account, with some speculating it was done in tribute to her brother. The caption read: ‘Queen Victoria’s mourning handkerchief embroidered with tears,’ and was accompanied by a blue love heart.
Their father was a director of the London Stock Exchange from 1991 to 1994 and of Domecq (formerly Allied Lyons). He was a member of the Council of King George’s Fund for Sailors (now Seafarers UK) and Vice-Lord Lieutenant of the county from 2000.
‘Huge hole in lives of so many people’