Row over Spike's unkempt grave

Headstones have been taken from Spike Milligan's grave as a family row rages over his estate.

Until a fortnight ago, his unkempt plot in Winchelsea, East Sussex, remained unmarked, so his son James placed an angel there as a temporary headstone.

But last week, it disappeared, and a plain wooden cross bearing the word 'Spike' was in its place.

Over the weekend, the cross mysteriously vanished, too, and the angel restored with a fresh basket of plants and a card reading: "Happy Easter, Dad. Lots of love from your children Laura, Sean, Sile, Jane and Grandchildren" - but no mention of James, Spike's son from an eight-year relationship with Margaret Maughan.

A local outside the church told the Daily Telegraph: "God knows what's going on. Spike may be having a chuckle about it all from on high but you'd expect one of our greatest comedians to be treated a bit better than this."

James said: "We took a stone angel down and put that there. I spoke to the vicar to see if any arrangements had been made for a headstone, and there hadn't been.

"But two days after we went down Shelagh [Milligan's third wife] put in her own application. I don't want to tread on anyone's toes. I just want Spike to be given the dignity he deserves."

According to previous newspaper reports, the family has been split over the estate since Spike died last year at the age of 83. James claimed he was not even invited to his father's funeral.

Published: 22 Apr 2003