Top designer Tessa Kennedy faces police probe over tree death

February 28, 2019

Top designer Tessa Kennedy faces police probe after tree from her £8million estate crushes ex-soldier to death when it fell onto car he was travelling in

Tessa Kennedy is facing police probe over death of soldier near her estate
Saxon Bowes-Crick, 46, was crushed by falling tree while driving on A308
Surrey Council says tree was on grounds of designer’s Runnymede estate
But Ms Kennedy claims the council is responsible for safety of the tree

One of Britain’s most famous interior designers who has worked for Elizabeth Taylor and King Hussein of Jordan is facing a police probe after a tree fell on a car in the grounds of her £8million estate and crushed a soldier to death.

Saxon Bowes-Crick, 46, was killed while he and four friends drove along a road in Egham, Surrey, by the grounds of Tessa Kennedy’s Runnymede estate near Egham.

The large tree crashed onto the silver Lexus as it cruised along the A308, en route to Windsor, on February 17.

Ms Kennedy, 80, who has also worked for on designs for The Ritz and Claridge’s in London, said the tree was Surrey County Council’s responsibility and was recently ‘declared safe’ after an inspection.

Tessa Kennedy, 80, left, is facing a police probe over the death of soldier Saxon Bowes-Crick, 46, right, after he was crushed to death by a tree that fell from the grounds of her estate in Surrey while he was driving along the A308

Ms Kennedy, pictured with Dame Joan Collins, is one of the most famous interior designers in Britain and has worked for celebrities including Mick Jagger and Elizabeth Taylor as well as King Hussein of Jordan

She told the Evening Standard: ‘I wasn’t home when it happened. The council had been down to cut the branches off the tree a couple of years ago. It should have been safe. They had dealt with it but unfortunately it fell down.’

But the council claim the tree was on private land and thus maintenance was down to Ms Kennedy.

A spokesman said: ‘This was a tragic incident. The tree was on private land and the police are leading the investigation.’

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Surrey Police is investigating but would not confirm whether Ms Kennedy has been questioned.

The force is appealing for anyone who saw the tree before the incident to come forward and said inquiries will involve speaking to surrounding homeowners.

No arrests have been made.

The mother-of-five designer has lived a glamorous life and caused a stir among society in the 1950s when eloping against her father’s wishes aged 18 with painter Dominick Elwes, who was 26.

Her father Geoffrey obtained a restraining order preventing them from marrying in England or Wales, causing them to go to Cuba where they had a civil ceremony in Havana at a hotel owned by notorious gangster Meyer Lansky.

Pictured: The scene of the fatal crash on the A308. Ms Kennedy claims Surrey Council is responsible for the tree, and that it had previously passed a safety inspection

They later fled the country after Fidel Castro’s revolution and legally wed in New York, before returning to England where Elwes was initially arrested and temporarily jailed for contempt of court.

She had three sons with Elwes, including actor and star of The Princess Bride Cary Elwes, before divorcing him and remarrying Hollywood producer Elliott Kastner, with whom she had a son and a daughter before his death in 2010.

Mr Elwes, a friend of Lord Lucan’s, killed himself with an overdose around six years after the couple divorced.

After studying at the École des Beaux-Arts school in Paris, Ms Kennedy began working as a designer in London in the 1960s with clients including Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger.

She launched her own firm in 1986 and has won several awards.

In 2014 she left her £20million home in Knightsbridge and auctioned off furniture and ornaments collected from around the world at Christie’s, raising tens of thousands of pounds.

She then retired and moved to Runnymede.

Ms Kennedy became a famous interior designer during the 1960s and 70s, pictured, and worked with foreign royals as well as London hotels including The Ritz and Claridge’s

She was also well known for eloping to Cuba with first husband Dominick Elwes, pictured with her, when she was just 18 and he was 26 after her father said he did not want them marrying

Tributes have been paid to Mr Bowes-Crick and his family have set up a memorial page for him on Facebook.

Family member Emma Bowes-Crick said: ‘All great journeys must come to an end and even for the indomitable Saxon.

‘You’ve travelled far and touched so many lives along the way. Your adventures will never be forgotten.’

She added: ‘Saxon was killed instantly by a tree that fell on the car he was a passenger in. There was no pain, fear or suffering.’

Dozens of people responded with fond memories of Mr Bowes-Crick.

Mark Bolam said: ‘I’m just in shock. The world has lost a hell of a man. Christ we had some good times together, one of the most honest people I’ve ever met.’

Julie Williams added: ‘Very sad news, such a lovely, sweet-natured guy.

‘I only worked with Saxon for a couple of weeks in Norway but he seemed like quite a unique guy.’

Who is Tessa Kennedy? How teenage runaway became one of Britain’s greatest designers

Tessa Kennedy has lived a glamorous life in the spotlight, working alongside greats from the music and film industry as well as royalty.

She was born in 1938 to Geoffrey Kennedy and Daska Ivanović, whose extended family helped found the former nation of Yugoslavia.

In her early life Ms Kennedy caused a stir among society in the 1950s when eloping against her father’s wishes aged 18 with painter Dominick Elwes, who was 26.

Tessa Kennedy, right, was married to Dominick Elwes, left, for 11 years before divorcing him and marrying Hollywood producer Elliott Kastner in 1971

The couple later fled the country after Fidel Castro’s revolution and legally wed in New York, before returning to England where Elwes was initially arrested and temporarily jailed for contempt of court.

Tessa Kennedy is mother of actor Cary Elwes, pictures, who starred in The Princess Bride and Robin Hood: Men in Tights

Mr Elwes, a friend of Lord Lucan’s, killed himself with an overdose around six years after the couple divorced.

After studying at the École des Beaux-Arts school in Paris, Ms Kennedy began working as a designer in London in the 1960s with clients including Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger.

She launched her own firm in 1986 and has won several awards.

Following two years as President of the International Society of Interior Designers in Britain and three years on the International Board, she was made a Fellow of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).

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