Lovelorn lord cruising for a lady

David Piper: plans to move to France

An eccentric Devon lord who placed a lonely hearts advert to find a wife is to continue his quest for romance on a riverboat cruise on Thursday.

David Piper, the 54-year-old Lord of the Manor of Warleigh, near Plymouth, received more than 2,000 replies to his advert 21 months ago.

The charity cruise will take Mr Piper and his guests up the river Tavy past the Warleigh Estate.

Mr Piper announced last month he is planning to move to France.

'English humour'

The divorced father-of-four sold his Warleigh Estate last October for an undisclosed sum, although he has retained his title and several acres of land.

He has now put his £1m 10-bedroom waterfront Plymouth town house on the market, and hopes to move to the Continent by the end of the year

Mr Piper had 2,000 replies to the advert he placed in the International Herald Tribune in November 2002.

It read: "Eccentric Lord of the Manor, 52, seeks attractive 25 to 35-year-old entrepreneurial, intelligent, professional of independent means to become his Lady of Warleigh.

"Mutual interests should include a catholic taste in music, the arts, travel adventure, English humour and fun."