David and Frederick Barclay Family

Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay are reclusive business tycoons who live in a Gothic-style castle on their own island. The island is known as ‘Brecqhou’ located in the Channel. They definitely enjoy all the luxuries of life in their 60-million pound home.

However, they were not born into a rich family and grew up in a quiet neighbourhood in Shepherds Bush, West London. The identical twins have always been close and were born in 1934. There was about 10 minutes gap between each birth.

They left school early and tried worked at the General Electric Company. They also tried their hand at painting and decorating before becoming estate agents. Their fortune was made after becoming joint proprietors of the Ritz and in the 1990s when they started buying newspapers.

The Barclay Brothers’ Parents- Frederick Hugh Barclay and Beatrice Cecelia Taylor

Their father was a commercial traveller who dealt in confectionery. He was born in Govan, Scotland. Their mother was born in Shirley, West Midlands and was the daughter of a solicitor’s clerk. They both lied about their age when they got married in 1925.

David and Frederick Barclay’s Siblings

Frederick Hugh Barclay and Beatrice Cecelia Taylor had eight children together, of which David and Frederick were born fourth and fifth respectively. The eight children were- Pauline Frederica, Lillian Rosetta, Andrew Roy, David Rowat, Frederick Hugh, Douglas Victor, Graham Stewart and Lawrence Hamilton.