Stage school pioneer Sylvia Young who launched careers of Amy Winehouse, Rita Ora and Billie Piper leaves £2.3million fortune to her family after her death aged 85

Stage school pioneer Sylvia Young left a £2.3million fortune to her family following her death aged 85 last year.The teacher helped launch the careers of some of Britain's best-known entertainers and singers, including Amy Winehouse, Rita Ora and Billie Piper. Mrs Young signed her will in April 2025, less than four months before her death and named her granddaughter, pop singer Eliza Doolittle, as one of its executors. She made her husband Norman the first in line to benefit from her estate, probate records published more than a year after her death have revealed.He receives her personal possessions outright, while the rest of her fortune was placed in a trust which will pay him income for the rest of his life.Her daughters, Alison and Tony Award-winning actress Frances Ruffelle, can benefit from the trust alongside her grandchildren and a number of charities.Separately, her business interests were placed in another trust for the same family members and charities.In 1972, she founded her eponymous school, beginning with part-time classes in the East End of London before expanding to a converted church in Westminster. The £14,000-a-year school's alumni also include singer Dua Lipa, presenter Denise Van Outen and McFly's Tom Fletcher, and actors Lashana Lynch and Nicholas Hoult. Sylvia Young was described by her daughter as a 'true visionary' who gave young people from all walks of life the chance to pursue their performing arts skills The stage school pioneer is credited with launching the careers of some of Britain's best-known entertainersYoung was made an OBE in 2005 for services to the arts and was later honoured with a special award at the Olivier Awards.Theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh said: 'Sylvia Young has been a force of nature and legend in British show business for so long.'She has had a profound influence on the character and discipline of generations of new young talent.'The estate was valued at £2,367,107, and once debts and expenses were paid it was reduced to £2,333,638.Frances Ruffelle, who was the original Eponine in the West End stage production of Les Miserables, paid tribute to her mother on social media after her death.She said: 'Our mum was a true visionary, she gave young people from all walks of life the chance to pursue their performing arts skills to the highest standard.'Her rare ability to recognise raw talent and encourage all her students, contributed to the richness of today's theatre world, even winning an Olivier award herself along the way.'She believed hard work with a bit of luck brought success and she was an example of that herself.'Above all she leaves the memory of an East End girl who's worked hard to achieve her goals, took hold of life and lived it to the full.'Her family were everything to her, her wonderful husband, Norman, our dad and her grandchildren, Eliza, Nat, Phoenix and Coral and her great grandson, Felix.'We share her love with her wide and inclusive family, her friends, her students, you all meant the world to her.'Radio legend Tony Blackburn wrote: 'So sorry to hear Sylvia Young has passed away. She founded the Sylvia Young Theatre School which has been responsible for starting so many careers in TV and Theatre. 'She was a very lovely lady who I have had the privilege of knowing for many years. She will be sadly missed. R.I.P Sylvia.'Actor Sadie Frost wrote: 'What a woman, what a family, what a legacy!'Sending everyone so much love and support - I am here if you need me.'She was always so lovely to me and will cherish memories forever.'