Just before last Christmas, Mandy Rice-Davies died. She was one of the major figures in the Profumo affair – one of the greatest political sex scandals of all time which nearly brought down the Government in 1963 when she was a 19 year old model and nightclub dancer. Stephen Ward was accused of controlling prostitutes one of whom was alleged to have been Mandy. In Court she was told that Lord Astor, a prominent figure, had said that he had never had sex with her and she replied “He would, wouldn’t he”. This comment has found its way into the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations.
Mandy’s comment is also often heard when Wills are contested. It is often the case that say a Parent may wish to leave more to one child rather than others if for example, a child has helped to look after him or her. If a Will is contested the Executors (people nominated by the Will Maker) would attempt to defend the Will, but if they try to explain why the Will was made as it was, people could say “They would say that, wouldn’t they?” particularly if the Executors were the people that were left more money. The best evidence is that of the Will Maker but the problem only arises after they have died. It is therefore important for the Will Maker to leave a letter explaining their reasons with their Will so that if the Will is contested the Will Maker can “speak from the grave”.
A letter should help to avoid a Court case. Most people would prefer to avoid going to Court but in Mandy’s case she made the most of her fame and even appeared in “Absolutely Fabulous”. She was also played by Bridget Fonda in “Scandal” a 1989 film about the affair.