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They talk, in passing, about some of the famous people in history who have been to their home in the way others might talk about Aunt Ethel and Uncle George's last visit. "Elizabeth I was here," says Robin Gibb. "So was Henry VIII. George III had some exiles from the French Revolution stay here, about 50 or them, and..." The list goes on and on. The medieval property, set in 20 lush and leafy acres on the edge of Thame, in Oxfordshire, and the former home of the last member of the Rolls Royce family, is that sort of place. If comes complete with its own chapel, refectory and heated swimming pool. The property, which the Gibbs share with their 10-year old son Robin-John, Robin's assistant (and Dwina's cousin) Ken, their macrobiotic chef and a gardener, was built in the 13th century by the great English theologian Robert Grosseteste. For 500 years The Prebendal, as it is called, maintained a strictly ecclesiastical role. It was here that priests trained to become bishops. Robin and Dwina have spent a great deal of time and money putting back what previous owners have taken out. They had been together on and off for four years, they had had a son together and they had no marriage plans. When they met, Robin, who has two children from his first marriage, Spencer and Melissa, was going through a painful divorce, while Dwina, one of three children from a deeply religious Protestant Northern Irish family, had been living in London as an artist and beanbag manufacturer. Marriage had never seemed an obvious option for her. But then she's not your obvious rock star's wife. She is an accomplished artist shows pen-and-ink drawings based on mythological themes are much sought after. She is also a talented writer whose novels are bestsellers. The second part of her Irish Cormac trilogy, Cormac: The King Making, will be published by Pan. She is a lifelong devotee of all things mystical, magical and spiritual who last year became Patroness of the ancient religious order of the Druids. "I know I am not what people expect of a pop star's wife," she says, "But then I have never been a conformist." "Neither have I," adds Robin.
Robin and Dwina Gibb 'We Love This Place - Even the Ghosts' Dwina, begins to tell the story of how they met. She recalls coming home from school and seeing the Bee Gees on television. Her sister said, "If you could marry one of them which would you choose?" She says, "I remember looking in the mirror and thinking, "None of them would want to marry me." "I watched them, and Robin would give a cheeky wink and a grin, and I remember thinking, "He's the one who's got the really good sense of humour." I said to my sister, "I'd have him because he's cheeky - looking." It was many years later, in 1980, having forgotten her childhood TV encounter with the shyest of the Gibb brothers - "my sister was the one who reminded me of it" when their paths eventually crossed. It was straight out of the sort of slushy romances she doesn't write. Famous rock star's marriage has broken up and he needs a minder, someone to drive him around, and he recruits a genial bear of a man called Ken Graydon. The minder tells the rock star he's meeting his cousin, and would the boss mind if he took time off? The rock star says, "Maybe I'll come with you." The attractive cousin, Dwina, has earlier given the minder some of her drawings which are Rolls Royce. The fabulously rich rock star sees them, likes them, and commissions some from her. Two weeks later the artist and the rock star go house - hunting together and fall in love. They have a baby, they move into the haunted mansion, they get married. Robin, vividly remembers the first meeting with Dwina. "The day we met she told me her birthday was on December 22nd, which happens to be the same as mine. What did you say I was, a warlock?" "Something like that. I thought he was just playing around, giving me a chat - up line. But it was true and what's more, it's the date of the winter solstice. With my interest in Druidism I thought that was a good omen."
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