 CHESHIRE life will never be quite the same again. Just two months after the Beckhams packed their bags for a new life in Madrid, the county's other famous couple, the Hamiltons, are also saying their goodbyes. Neil and Christine have finally sold their £1.4m home in the village of Nether Alderley and the couple move out on Thursday. The former Tatton MP's home, with parts dating back to the 16OOs, stands beside the centuries-old sandstone St Mary's Church and has been described as one of the "few remaining Georgian gentleman's residences in North East Cheshire". It is steeped in history and over the years welcomed visitors ranging from Edward Lear, the writer of nonsense verses, to Winston Churchill, and, during the Hamiltons' 13 years in residence, guests included Margaret Thatcher, Michael Portillo, Ken Dodd, Barbara Cartland and, most recently, Louis Theroux. The couple had to put their home on the market after a failed appeal to the House of Lords in their libel action against Mohammed Al Fayed. The affair led to BBC reporter Martin Bell standing against the former Tory minister in the 1997 election after Labour and the Liberal Democrats agreed to stand aside. Hamilton was ousted from his seat and since then the couple have lived their lives in the full glare of the media spotlight. They have been described by one commentator as "two ends of a pantomime horse". Speaking to the Daily Post last night, Hamilton, 52, said: "We have already said goodbye to our friends up here, now it's just a case of getting everything into boxes before Thursday." He added: "It is a wonderful house, very spacious and we have very many happy memories here. There have also been tough times. I was very proud to be an MP and it was a privilege to represent the people of Tatton. "I'm just sorry it ended the way it did." Since he lost his seat in parliament, the couple have carved themselves a career in radio and television, and Christine has toured Britain in a one-woman stage show. Because most of their work is in London, Hamilton says it is impractical to keep a home in the North West. But he also has debts in the region of £1.5m resulting from his failed legal action. The couple insist none of the money from the sale will go to Fayed himself with Christine, 50, declaring: "Half of the money from the house will go to me and none of it will be going to Mr Fayed. "We are sad to be leaving but the M6 has finally defeated us. "Of course we will be back as often as possible to see my mother." The property is being sold to a local family with three children. The six-bedroom mansion has a Victorian bath used by Churchill and a 60ft high "Waterloo" rhododendron planted by a former rector, Edward Stanley, in 1815. | 
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