GEORGE CARMAN, the legendary libel lawyer, is to be honoured with a fitting epitaph. His headstone will be made by France and Son, undertakers and stonemasons to the cardinals and Nelson.
Father Michael Seed, chaplain at Westminster Cathedral, will officiate at the ceremony at St Mary’s Cemetery, Kensal Green.
Karen Phillipps, the partner of Carman, is going ahead after regular discussions with the executors. No headstone could go up for the first year to allow the ground to settle.
My apologies to Karen, who was unfairly accused in this column last week by Dominic Carman, the lawyer’s son, of doing nothing about a headstone. Carman wrote a lurid and critical biography of his father which greatly upset Karen and the lawyer’s friends.
Karen, who chose the grave after Dominic told her he had no wish to be involved, has gone for a simple inscription.
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“George’s executors said they would have to approve the arrangements for the headstone and I had to wait until the estate’s affairs were settled. Dominic went public with his complaint before he raised it with me.”