// BBC ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS — MODA & SOCIETÀ
Family row over George Michael items up for auction - including Faith guitar
George Michael gave items including his Faith guitar to his assistant Siobhan Bailey
A family row has broken out over an auction of George Michael memorabilia taking place on Thursday.
The guitar played by the singer-songwriter in the Faith music video is one of several items being auctioned by Sworders from the collection of Siobhan Bailey, Michael's long-time personal assistant.
Siobhan died in 2014 and the items are being sold by her estranged husband Ian Belcher, who inherited them after her death.
Gerard Bailey, Siobhan's brother, told the BBC she "would be horrified at the prospect of the auction being held in her name and that her personal, cherished possessions are being sold off to the highest bidder". Both Sworders and Belcher declined to comment.
Sworders describes the 32 lots as a "remarkable group of memorabilia from the collection of Siobhan Bailey, George Michael's long-time personal assistant and trusted confidante".
Michael grew up in Hertfordshire and shot to fame alongside Andrew Ridgeley in pop duo Wham! He went on to enjoy solo success with hits such as Faith, Careless Whisper, Father Figure, Outside and Fastlove. He died in 2016.
Siobhan was in the process of divorcing Belcher when she died, but was legally still married to him. She did not leave a will.
Her brother claimed she had started to draw up a will shortly before she died, which would have left the items to her nieces and nephews, but it was not registered.
There is no suggestion that Belcher does not have the right to sell the items, because her estate legally passed to him when she died.