The life of Simon Mann, the adventurous Old Etonian and former mercenary, was celebrated in a moving memorial service at the Guards Chapel in central London.
His fiancée, Negar Yazdani, led mourners in honoring the 72-year-old who passed away on May 8, 2025, from a cardiac arrest, surrounded by those who loved him most.
A Life of Adventure and Controversy
Mann’s story reads like a novel. An SAS officer turned mercenary, he became one of 70 men arrested during the infamous 2004 Wonga Coup in Equatorial Guinea.
Sir Mark Thatcher, son of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, was also implicated for his role in the plot.
Mann’s exploits spanned continents—from Cyprus and Germany to Northern Ireland and the Gulf War—before his entanglement in the world of private military operations.
Family and Love at the Heart of the Memorial
At the service, Mann’s fiancée, Negar, wore a heart necklace he had given her early in their relationship, symbolizing their deep bond.
She described the memorial as a “beautiful celebration of a remarkable life,” praising his energy, humor, loyalty, and kindness.
Also in attendance was Mann’s third wife, Amanda, mother of four of his seven children, and his son Jack, who once served as Prince Harry’s “real best man.”
The memorial card featured a whimsical illustration of Mann ascending to heaven with angels holding signs referencing his life: “Equatorial Guinea,” “Eton Pop,” “Scots Guards,” and “SAS.”
Another sign humorously read “Black Rock,” a nod to the prison where he served time for his role in the failed coup.
From Privilege to Peril
Born in 1952 to George Mann, a former England cricket captain and heir to the Watney Mann brewing fortune, Simon Mann had a life of privilege.
After Sandhurst, he served in the Scots Guards and SAS, volunteering in the first Gulf War and forming the private military company Sandline in 1996.
His arrest in 2004 in Harare, Zimbabwe, followed a plan to transport £100,000 of weapons to aid a coup in Equatorial Guinea.
Despite claims the mission was for diamond security in the Congo, he was sentenced to seven years, while most of his co-conspirators were acquitted.
Later, a controversial agreement, dubbed the “Oil for Mann” deal, led to his transfer to Equatorial Guinea’s Black Beach Prison, where he endured malaria and solitary confinement before being pardoned in 2009.
A New Chapter With Negar
After splitting with Amanda in 2024, Mann found love with Negar Yazdani.
Their relationship quickly became serious, and he planned to marry her, promising a ruby engagement ring—her birthstone.
Negar recalled the morning of his death, when he told her: “I want you to know I’m the happiest I have ever been. All the pain I’ve had in my life has been worth it to meet you.”
Finding Peace in Everyday Life
In his seventies, Mann sought a quieter, more fulfilling life.
He was cooking, reading Shakespeare, reciting Kipling, studying science and AI, and simply enjoying time with Negar.
The night before he passed, they shopped for dinner at Waitrose and watched Downton Abbey together—a far cry from his previous life of conflict and adventure.
Negar’s tribute captured the essence of Mann’s transformation: a man who once lived on the edge, now cherishing the simple joys of love, family, and personal growth.