Matthews is the widow of Bernard, the auctioneer’s clerk who started rearing turkeys in 1950 and went on to found Bernard Matthews Holdings, based in Norwich. He died aged 80 in November 2010.She helped him build the company in its early years and has a 32% stake.

However, they lived apart for 35 years and her late husband’s wealth has passed to his son by a Dutch woman, Frederick Elgershuizen.

In 2009 Bernard Matthews Holdings made a £3.9m loss on sales of £330.5m but had net assets worth £101.2m and should be worth that sum.Matthews’ stake is worth just over £32m and she has other wealth.