Guernsey Press

Family rejects Rich List sum

THE latest Sunday Times Rich List has been attacked as 'wildly inaccurate'.

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THE latest Sunday Times Rich List has been attacked as 'wildly inaccurate'. Roger Norman said his family wealth was nowhere near the £150m. claimed in yesterday's newspaper. Mr Norman appears for the first time in the list of Britain's 1,000 wealthiest in equal 210th position - alongside rockers Tom Jones and Keith Richards. He was not pleased. The list also reveals that the Barclay twins are no longer the wealthiest people in the Bailiwick. Their friend, David Rowland, and his son, Jonathan, have overtaken them. The Rowlands, who are financiers, are said to be worth about £660m., making them the 32nd richest people in Britain. That is £10m. more than the castle-dwelling owners of Brecqhou, who are at equal 34th on the list. Mr Norman, former chairman of the Commodore Shipping group - which the Sunday Times said was sold in a management buy-out last year for £180m. - said the estimate was nonsense. 'It's so inaccurate that it has no credibility. We totally disagree with their arithmetic. They have guessed the sale value for Condor Ferries, plucked a figure out of the air and added a couple of noughts,' he said. However, he declined to reveal the true figure. Mr Norman said that he had 'no idea' how the paper arrived at its estimate. He said that no one from the Sunday Times had contacted him or any of his family. They include Deputy Geoff Norman, the Tourist Board president and a director of Norman Piette, and David Norman, of Marine and General Engineers. It is understood that the Normans would contend that they did not own the whole of the shipping group sold and that the Sunday Times figure did not take into account any debt the company might have had at the time of sale. Mr Norman was undecided about whether he would contact the Sunday Times to point out the inaccuracies. Specsavers owners Douglas and Mary Perkins are also understood to be unhappy about the details of their listing. A spokesman said the information included was out of date. Mr and Mrs Perkins are said to be worth £80m. - the same as last year - and are placed equal 406th. Tom Scott, who has interests in Comprop, CI Traders and International Energy Group, said: 'There are a lot of people with more money than me who are not included. It is only because I am a public figure that I appear.' Mr Scott, who is said to be worth £120m. and is in equal 264th place - up £30m. on last year - said: 'The Sunday Times makes it own assessments.' The Channel Islands Top Ten... 1. David and Jonathan Rowland, finance, Guernsey, £660m., 32nd. (2002: £690m. and 38th) 2=. Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, property, media and hotels, Brecqhou, £650m., =34th. (2002: £768m. and 32nd) 2=.The Walker family, steel, aviation, property and football, Jersey, £650m., =34th. (The legacy of the late Jack Walker, owner of Blackburn Rovers and Flybe). (2002: £800m. and 26th) 4. William Johnson, inventions, Guernsey, £495m., =59th. (2002: £495m. and 60th) 5. Trevor Hemmings, property and leisure, Jersey, £480m., =64th. (2002: £518m. and 55th) 6. The Clarke Family, property, Jersey, £400m., =74th. (New entry) 7. Steve Morgan, football and construction, Jersey, £312m., 105th. (2002: £362m. and 86th) 8. David Murray, football, property and industry, Jersey, £267m., 126th. (2002: £300m. and =111th) 9. David Crossland and family, travel, Jersey, £192m., 168th. (2002: £310m. and 106th) 10. Roger Norman and family, shipping, Guernsey, £150m., =210th. (New entry)

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