Mavroleon family
Encyclopedia
The Mavroleon family is a Greek
family of shipping magnates with strong United Kingdom
connections. They also own a large amount of land in Greece. At the height of their wealth their fortune amounted to around £2 billion, and their fleet comprised 32 ships.
Basil Mavroleon (1909–1991), descended from a long-established shipping family in Greece, moved to England as a member of the merchant shipping business based in the UK and run by his cousins, the Kulukundis family
. He later set up the shipping company London and Overseas Freighters (LOF). Along with the Kulukundis, he set up the Greek merchant navy.
He married an English wife, Violet Withers, by whom he had a son, Manuel Basil Mavroleon, generally known by his nickname "Bluey" (1932–2009), who was educated in England and served in the Grenadier Guards
. Bluey on to run the firm but moved to Switzerland
when the 1974–1979 Labour Government nationalised Austin and Pickersgill
shipbuilders in which LOF was the largest shareholder. Bluey was particularly known for his generosity and parties. He was married four times and left four children and six grandchildren.
His son Nicholas Mavroleon was married to American actress Barbara Carrera
. Another son Carlos Mavroleon (1958–1998) was educated at Eton
and Harvard
, and while he was in the US had an affair with Mary Richardson, later the wife of Bobby Kennedy Jr. He later became a member of the Mujahideen
, with whom he fought against the Red Army
in Afghanistan
. A professional journalist but also a drug addict, he died a mysterious death in Peshawar
while on assignment for CBS
reporting on Operation Infinite Reach.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
family of shipping magnates with strong United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
connections. They also own a large amount of land in Greece. At the height of their wealth their fortune amounted to around £2 billion, and their fleet comprised 32 ships.
Basil Mavroleon (1909–1991), descended from a long-established shipping family in Greece, moved to England as a member of the merchant shipping business based in the UK and run by his cousins, the Kulukundis family
Eddie Kulukundis
Sir Eddie Kulukundis OBE is a member of a Greek shipping family whose professional career has spanned shipping and the theatre....
. He later set up the shipping company London and Overseas Freighters (LOF). Along with the Kulukundis, he set up the Greek merchant navy.
He married an English wife, Violet Withers, by whom he had a son, Manuel Basil Mavroleon, generally known by his nickname "Bluey" (1932–2009), who was educated in England and served in the Grenadier Guards
Grenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
. Bluey on to run the firm but moved to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
when the 1974–1979 Labour Government nationalised Austin and Pickersgill
A&P Group
A&P Group Ltd is the largest ship repair and conversion company in the UK, with three shipyards located in Hebburn, Middlesbrough and Falmouth. The Company undertakes a wide variety of maintenance and repair work on commercial and military ships with projects ranging from a two day alongside repair...
shipbuilders in which LOF was the largest shareholder. Bluey was particularly known for his generosity and parties. He was married four times and left four children and six grandchildren.
His son Nicholas Mavroleon was married to American actress Barbara Carrera
Barbara Carrera
Barbara Carrera is a Nicaraguan-born American film and television actress as well as a former model. She is best known for her roles as Bond girl Fatima Blush in Never Say Never Again and as Angelica Nero on the soap opera Dallas.-Early life:Barbara Kingsbury was born in San Carlos, Río San Juan,...
. Another son Carlos Mavroleon (1958–1998) was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, and while he was in the US had an affair with Mary Richardson, later the wife of Bobby Kennedy Jr. He later became a member of the Mujahideen
Mujahideen
Mujahideen are Muslims who struggle in the path of God. The word is from the same Arabic triliteral as jihad .Mujahideen is also transliterated from Arabic as mujahedin, mujahedeen, mudžahedin, mudžahidin, mujahidīn, mujaheddīn and more.-Origin of the concept:The beginnings of Jihad are traced...
, with whom he fought against the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. A professional journalist but also a drug addict, he died a mysterious death in Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
while on assignment for CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
reporting on Operation Infinite Reach.