THE wife of jazz and pop star Georgie Fame has died in a 250ft fall
from the Bristol Suspension Bridge, it was revealed yesterday.
Nicolette Powell, 52, was seen to fall from the central span of the
historic bridge over the Avon Gorge at Clifton, Bristol, on Friday,
August 13, Avon and Somerset police confirmed.
The bridge is a well known suicide spot above the picturesque gorge.
Mrs Powell's body was recovered by a passing boat in the River Avon,
helped by members of the Avon Fire Brigade.
An inquest was formally opened last week by the Bristol coroner and
adjourned to a date to be fixed.
It is understood the formal identification of the body was made by her
husband, whose real name is Clive Powell.
Mrs Powell lived at Hook Farm, Stoke Trister, Wincanton, Somerset.
The daughter of a wealthy stockbroker, she went to finishing school
abroad and was one of the last debutantes to be presented to the Queen.
She was barely out of school in 1958 when she married the catch of the
season, the Marquis of Londonderry, at just 17, and had two daughters.
It looked like a blueprint for a perfect life. However, the first
signs of trouble came after the Marchioness of Londonderry had given
birth to a son, Viscount Castlereagh, in 1970.
Blood tests proved the baby was not the marquis's and little Tristan
was stripped of his 200-year-old title.
Georgie Fame was cited for adultery in a notorious divorce case and
later admitted the boy was his son.
The Londonderrys divorced in March 1971. The following year Georgie
Fame married Nicolette at Marylebone Register Office in London.
Mr Fame could not be contacted to comment on his wife's death.
However, his solicitors issued a statement last night saying his
wife's funeral had been held yesterday.
It read, ''Nicolette Elaine Katherine Powell was cremated today at
Salisbury and the family would very much appreciate it if their privacy
was respected at this difficult time.''
At a service in the parish church of St Andrew's in Stoke Trister,
Fame led the small group of family mourners. They then went on for the
private cremation ceremony in Salisbury.
It is understood that a memorial service is to be held at a later
date.
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