Anita Dobson, the actress wife of Queen legend Brian May, has opened up about their domestic life after a devastating incident forced them to abandon London for a sprawling countryside estate.
From Sewage Flood to Surrey Sanctuary
The couple's previous £7 million London home was inundated with sewage in 2021, an event Anita described as heartbreaking. The flood caused severe damage and ruined many of Brian's cherished pieces of memorabilia. This prompted their move to a tranquil retreat far from the capital's hustle.
They have since settled into a staggering £25 million property set within a 200-acre estate in Windlesham, Surrey. The Regency-style house, built in the 1920s, replaced a 16th-century farmhouse on the site. Anita, 76, has said that Brian, now 78, has "never been happier" since the move, having fallen in love with the natural surroundings before even seeing the house itself.
The Clutter Confession: 'World's Greatest Collectors'
Despite the grandeur of their new home, Anita admits that managing clutter is an ongoing battle. She characterised herself and Brian as two of the "world's greatest collectors of clutter in the universe."
Their large rooms frequently become "jammed with stuff" within weeks of a clean-out. This accumulation is partly due to gifts from well-wishers, which they find hard to part with. "We don't give them away, so we just keep them all," she told the Daily Mail. This hoarding tendency means downsizing is firmly off the cards for now.
Brian May's Evolving Collecting Habits
Anita shed light on her husband's famous collecting passion, noting he is a "big collector" with a particular fondness for Star Wars items. His favourite character is Yoda, the "little green guy." She revealed that Brian often buys two of an item: one for his grandchildren to play with and one for his own collection.
However, his enthusiasm has "eased off a bit" as he's grown older. Beyond Star Wars, he also enjoys collecting dinosaur figures and models of prehistoric creatures. Anita herself struggles with decluttering, though she does donate clothes to a local hospice.
The move to the countryside brought a poignant moment of reflection for Anita. She confessed to missing London's lights, noise, and even its dirt, having been born there. She recalled thinking, "I'm buying my own retirement home," acknowledging the quieter phase of life ahead while embracing the peace Brian so dearly loves.
