Cynthia Payne dead: Former brothel madam and Personal Services subject dies aged 82

Former brothel madam Cynthia Payne has died aged 82

FORMER brothel madam Cynthia Payne has died aged 82, her family has confirmed.

 

The controversial personality had her life story depicted in two films in the 1980s.

Cynthia first hit the headlines in 1978, when police raided her home during a sex party involving elderly men.

 

Clients paid with luncheon vouchers to dress up in lingerie and be spanked by young women.

Her London home in the quiet suburb of Streatham was dubbed the "House of Cyn" by the media.

 

  

Cynthia first hit the headlines in 1978, when police raided her home during a sex party

 

Her life was immortalised by the 1987 film Personal Services

She served time in prison after a 1980 trial, but at a further trial in 1987 she was cleared of controlling prostitutes at her home in south west London.

After the 13-day trial she reportedly sent the judge a copy of An English Madam with the inscription: "I hope this book will broaden your rather sheltered life."

Cynthia’s life was immortalised in the 1987 film Personal Services, in which she was portrayed by Julie Walters.

That same year, comedy drama Wish You Were here was also loosely based on her life story.

 



Her London home in Streatham was dubbed the 'House of Cyn' by the media



The book An English Madam by Paul Bailey also told the story of her life.

Cynthia went on to write a book called 'Entertaining at Home', with tips for hosting parties and dealing with the police.

She stood for Parliament twice, in the hope of changing sex laws, but failed to win 1% of the vote.

Cynthia made appearances as an after-dinner speaker and launched a range of "adult" services and products in 2006.

 

Family friend Kevin Horkin described her as "a national treasure” and an “extremely colourful archetypal English eccentric".

"She was a person with a very big heart," he said. "She is someone who epitomised the phrase ‘what you saw is what you got’.

"Her beliefs, however, shone through strongly in the campaigning activity she was involved with in order to change Britain’s sex laws, publicising the issue when she stood for parliament on two occasions in the Kensington and Chelsea byelection of 1988 and in the general election of 1992 in Streatham.

He added: "She is someone who will be very sorely missed by all who knew her."