Celebs on the move
5 April 2012
Eric is knocking on America's door
Surrey-born pop legend Eric Clapton is contemplating a move to America. This follows his 2002 marriage to Ohio graphic designer Melia McEnery, 30 years his junior, by whom he has two daughters. "I've an American wife and she's had to uproot herself to live in England. It might be easier for me to live in America," says Clapton. So how much could the Layla superstar expect for his Ewhurst, Surrey, mansion? "Big houses with all the toys sell for about £3 million," reports a local agent.
- There is bad news for actress Minnie Driver's (right) father, former insurance mogul Ronnie Driver. After nearly a year on the market he accepted a reduced offer of £5.4 million for his eightbedroom, seven-reception room house on Cheyne Walk. "But on exchange day the purchaser pulled out, just as the furniture was being piled into the removal vans," says agent Victoria Soames. "He has now withdrawn it from the market." The Georgian mansion, where Minnie was raised, is on the site of one of Henry
- As Chancellor of the Exchequer in Ted Heath's government of the early 1970s, Lord Barber was responsible for fuelling a property boom. Now he has taken advantage of the present bonanza by selling his seven-bedroom farmhouse near Ockham, Surrey, for £1.5 million through Hamptons International. The recently widowed life peer, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, bought Appstree Farm, an amalgamation of two 17th century and 19th century cottages, nearly 10 years ago.
- Rotherhithe was once one of London's toughest places, but now this regenerated Docklands area boasts residents such as EastEnders actress Laila Morse and Liberty X stars Michelle Heaton and Kelli Young. So if you fancy the wide river views of Canary Wharf and warehouseliving, agent Alex Neil has a threebedroom penthouse for sale in a former timber warehouse at Canada Wharf at £595,000.
- Hollywood actress Julia Stiles is living in some luxury while she makes her London stage debut as a sexually harassed student in David Mamet's drama Oleanna. The producers, Out of the Blue, have rented her a West End apartment during the three-month run, which begins tomorrow. The sassy New Yorker, famous for her roles in Mona Lisa Smile and Save the Last Dance, stars opposite Californian hunk Aaron Eckhart.
