An unconventional nobleman, known for seeking a wife with specific qualifications on a television program, has lost a legal battle with his former spouse over a £1.2 million inheritance. Sir Benjamin Slade, who divorced Lady Pauline Slade after a 12-year marriage in 1994, was involved in a dispute concerning a trust fund awarded to his ex-wife as part of the divorce settlement. The trust fund comprised a property valued at £585,000 and a cash fund of approximately £651,000.
The conflict arose when Lady Slade vacated the Somerset residence, where Sir Slade had been residing since putting his estate up for sale the previous year. The 7th Baronet had previously made public appeals for a wife, outlining a series of unconventional prerequisites, such as not being a Scorpio, not being of Scottish descent, and being at least two decades younger than him.
The legal battle intensified when Lady Slade left the Somerset property, called Old Farm, in 2023, requesting its sale by trustees to settle her debts and bolster her finances. However, Sir Slade contested her right to sell the property, arguing that it was intended for her to reside there rent-free for life or acquire a replacement dwelling, as the property was not meant to generate income, with her financial support stemming from the cash fund.
The dispute escalated to the High Court as trustees overseeing Lady Slade’s divorce fund sought clarification on her entitlement to sell the property and retain the proceeds. In court, Sir Slade’s legal representative, Robert Deacon, revealed that Lady Slade had expressed her intention not to return to the property, granting consent for its sale to enhance her income and settle her debts.
Master Julia Clark ruled in favor of Lady Slade, emphasizing that the purpose of the divorce fund was to provide her with income during her lifetime, which included the property in question. The judge dismissed Sir Slade’s argument that the trust’s purpose would cease if Lady Slade did not purchase a replacement property, affirming her entitlement to the proceeds from the property’s sale.
Sir Slade, a descendant of General Sir John Slade, a baronet associated with the Duke of Wellington, hails from Maunsel House in Somerset, which he has listed for sale at £3.5 million. Notably, he had previously offered a £50,000 annual reward for a wife, specifying a set of unusual criteria, such as age, interests, and lifestyle preferences.
In a distinctive quest for a partner, Sir Slade garnered attention for his idiosyncratic requirements, including a televised appearance on ITV’s This Morning in 2018. His first wife, Pauline Myburgh, was the daughter of Devon county cricketer and British Army officer Major Claude Myburgh.
