The Baroness Clyde [died 2020]

 _. The Baroness Clyde, who died 25 November, 2020, aged 87, was the widow of the Baron Clyde, PC [1932-2009], a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary.

She was the former Anne Clunie Hoblyn, and married in 1963, James John Clyde, son of James Latham McDiarmid Clyde, Lord Clyde, PC [1898-1975], a Scottish Judge, sometime Lord Advocate with the title Lord Clyde [but not a life peer].

Her husband was appointed a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary in 1996, and elevated to the peerage as Baron Clyde, of Briglands in Perthshire and Kinross. He died 6 March, 2009.

Lady Clyde leaves two sons, Jamie and Tim.

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Graham-Watson/Nevitt engagement

 _. The engagement was announced 4 December, 2020, between Alexander Cosimo Graham-Watson [born 1989], second son of Andrew FitzJames Graham-Watson [born 22 January,1957], of Longworth, co Oxford, scion of that landed gentry family of Lofts Hall, Saffron Walden, co Essex, and his wife the former Brigitte Claude Marie Jeanson, & Lauren Elizabeth Nevitt, daughter of Mr & Mrs Tom Nevitt, of Long Island, New York.

Alexander's great-great grandfather James Graham-Watson [1850-1931], married 1878, Charlotte Maude Boothby [d 1938], scion of the Barons Boothby.

Alexander is a fourth cousin once removed of Diana, Princess of Wales.

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Walter George Spencer Woodhouse [born 2020]

 __. Celia Rose Woodhouse [nee McCorquodale, born 1989], wife of George Woodhouse, gave birth to a son, Walter George Spencer, 27 November, 2020.

Celia Woodhouse is a first cousin of the Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex. Harry and Meghan attended Celia's wedding to George Woodhouse, at Stoke Rochford, Lincolnshire, on 16 June, 2018, just a few weeks after their own wedding in Windsor. Celia wore the Spencer tiara famously worn by her aunt, Lady Diana Spencer, at her marriage to the Prince of Wales, 29 July, 1981.

Celia is scion of the McCorquodale landed gentry family, the younger daughter of Mr Neil McCorquodale by his wife the former Lady [Elizabeth] Sarah Lavinia Spencer [b 1955], eldest daughter of the late 8th Earl Spencer [1924-92].

George John Woodhouse [born 1991] is the younger son of Mr Philip J. Woodhouse and the late Mrs Sarah J. [Pudding] Woodhouse [nee George]. 

Charles Woodhouse, George's elder brother, is married to a daughter of Baroness Shackleton, the noted divorce lawyer.

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Thomas George Ramsay Davidson Clark 1922-2020

 _. Thomas George Ramsay Davidson Clark, who died 28 November, 2020, aged 98, was a scion of the Clark of Edinburgh baronets [cr 1886]; born 21 October, 1922, son of Capt Thomas George Clark [1895-1986], late 7th Battalion the Royal Scots, publisher, by his wife the former Mary Hall Aldcorn; married 1956, Sheila Campbell Brown, daughter of Hebert Campbell Brown, of St Andrews, Fife, by whom he had issue, a son, Nigel, and three daughters, Sheena, Karen and Gillian.

Thomas Clark was a great-grandson of Sir Thomas Clark, 1st Baronet [1823-1900], Lord Provost of Edinburgh 1885-88.

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Edmund Campbell d'Olier Lees 1929-2020

 _. Edmund Campbell d’Olier Lees, who died 19 November, 2020, aged 91, was a scion of the Lees baronets [cr 1804]; born 10 June, 1929, elder son of John Rutherford Lees [1887-1972], who, assumed by deed poll in 1952, the addition surname of d'Olier, for himself and his family, by his wife the former Margery Scott [1894-1975]; married 1960, Hilary Vernon Harbord [born 1937], daughter of John Gilbert Harbord [1904-1984], and his wife the former Audrey Hope Anderson Martin [1913-2002], by whom he had issue, sons Robert and Richard, and daughters, Caroline and Deborah.

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Keith/Showalter engagement

 _. The engagement was announced 2 December, 2020, between Capt Edward Michael Keith, of The Blues and Royals [born 1991], scion of the Keith landed family, of West Barsham Hall, eldest son of James Edward Keith [born 5 March, 1960], of Hoe Hall, Norfolk, and his wife the former Victoria Rosemary Cook, & Ellen Grace Showalter [born 1993], only daughter of Mr & Mrs William Showalter, of McClellanville, South Carolina, and Jordans, Buckinghamshire.

Capt Edward Keith is a great-nephew of the late Baron Keith of Castleacre [1916-2004], life peer, businessman and banker. 

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Bethell/Mills engagement

 _. The engagement was announced 2 December, 2020, between Nicholas Bethell [born 1990], acion of the landed gentry family of Bethell of Rise, third son of Hugh Adrian Bethell [born 23 April, 1952], of Rise, East Riding of Yorkshire, by his wife the former Sarah Elizabeth St Aubyn [born 28 June, 1955], scion of the Barons St Levan, & Alice Victoria R. Mills [born 1991], elder daughter of Andrew Mills, of Farthinghoe, Northamptosnhire, and his wife the former Vanessa A. Harford.

Nicholas's paternal grandfather, Richard Anthony Bethell, married 27 Sept, 1945, Lady Jane Pleydell-Bouverie [1923-2006], daughter of the 7th Earl of Radnor [1895-1968]. On Nicholas's maternal side he descends from the Barons St Levan, of St Michael's Mount, Penzance, and the Earls of Morley, &c.

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Harbord-Hamond/Fellowes engagement

 _. The union of two aristocratic dynasties, Lord Suffield's heir and Lord De Ramsey's daughter.

The engagement was announced 2 December, 2020, between the Hon Samuel Charles Anthony Harbord-Hamond [born 4 February, 1989], eldest son of the 13th Baron Suffield [born 10 July, 1956], of Wandsworth, London, and his wife the former Katharine Margaret Lucy Seymour [born 15 December, 1959], scion of the Marquesses of Hertford, & the Hon Flora Mary Fellowes [born 1991], younger daughter of the 4th Baron De Ramsey [born 27 February, 1942], of Abbots Ripton, Cambridgeshire, and his wife the former Alison Mary Birkmyre [born 5 Sept, 1954], scion of the Birkmyre baronets.

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Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore 1948-2020

 The UK Supreme Court has paid tribute to one of its first judges, Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore, who has died aged 72.

His death was announced just two months after he retired, having served in the UK's highest court since it was established in 2009.

Lord Kerr was also lord chief justice of Northern Ireland from 2004 to 2009.

The President of the Supreme Court, Lord Reed, described him as a kind and modest man with an "instinctive sense of justice" who would be much missed.

"Justices and staff alike are shocked by the news, and we offer our deepest sympathy to Lady Kerr, her children and their families," he said.

Lord Kerr had a long and illustrious legal career which took him to the very top of the UK justice system.

Born Brian Francis Kerr in 1948, his family lived in Lurgan, County Armagh, and he was educated at St Colman's College in Newry, County Down.

He studied law at Queen's University Belfast and was called to the bar in 1970.

The father of two became a QC in 1983 and within 10 years, he was a judge.

"He became a High Court judge at the age of 44, at a time when the decision to serve as a judge in Northern Ireland required courage and a strong sense of duty." said Lord Reed.

He later rose to become lord chief justice - the most senior judge in Northern Ireland - and served five years in that post.

When the Supreme Court was created in 2009, the then Sir Brian Kerr was one of the first judges to be appointed to the newly-formed institution.

Having served exactly 11 years on the UK's most powerful court, he retired from the Supreme Court on 30 September.

His death was announced by a fellow judge at Craigavon Crown Court in County Armagh on Tuesday morning.

Just before he started a trial, Judge Patrick Lynch QC told the jury he had just received the news that the "local boy" had died suddenly.

He added that Lord Kerr had "a distinguished career as a junior barrister" before being called to the bar.

Judge Lynch also told the jury that on his appointment to the Supreme Court, he took the title of Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore in tribute to his Lurgan roots.

Despite climbing to the top of his profession, Lord Kerr once said that he "fell into law by default" and had little ambition to become a judge.

In an address to the Supreme Court on Tuesday afternoon, its president Lord Reed said: "Brian was a deeply valued colleague, a kind and modest man of the utmost integrity, who will be deeply missed by all those who had the pleasure of working with him."

He added that his late colleague had the most distinguished of legal careers and "left us a legacy which will be drawn on well into the future.

"Through his judgments and during hearings, Brian demonstrated his strong and instinctive sense of justice, and his thoughtful and principled approach to resolving legal problems.

"He will never know the full extent of the impact which his considerate, good-humoured and encouraging nature had on the court, the staff of the court, and his judicial colleagues."

The Supreme Court flag will fly at half-mast on Tuesday and Wednesday in tribute to Lord Kerr.

Lady Vestey, the Duke of Sussex's godmother, dies suddenly, aged 71

 _.The Baroness Vestey, who died suddenly, 28 November, 2020, aged 71, was the wife of courtier, Sam Vestey, the 3rd Baron, former Master of the Horse to the Queen. She was a godmother of the Duke of Sussex, standing sponsor at his christening almost 36 years ago.

Lady Vestey was a close friend of the Queen and Prince of Wales, a member of their 'racing circle'.

She was born at Oxford in 1949, as Celia Elizabeth Knight, a daughter of Major [Hubert] Guy Broughton Knight, MC [1917-93], head of that landed gentry family, of Lockinge Manor, Wantage, and his wife the former Hester Loyd [1920-2002], scion of the Loyds of Lockinge. Celia's elder sister, Henrietta [born in 1946], is the retired English Thoroughbred racehorse trainer, best known as a trainer of National Hunt racehorses, wife of Terry Biddlecombe [1941-2014], the champion jockey.

She married in 1981, as his second wife, Samuel George Armstrong Vestey, 3rd Baron Vestey, GCVO [born 19 March, 1941], of Stowell Park, Gloucestershire, the billionaire landowner, who served the Royal Household as Master of the Horse, in attendance on the Queen at the annual Birthday Parade.

She stood sponsor at the Christening of Prince Harry at Windsor, on 21 Dec, 1984. Harry's other godparents were his uncle, the Duke of York, his father's cousin, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, Mrs William Bartholemew, a former flatmate of Diana, Princess of Wales, Bryan Organ, the portrait painter, and Gerald Ward, scion of the Earls of Dudley, a landowner chum of the Prince of Wales.

Lady Vestey was the mother of two sons, the Hon William Vestey [born 27 Aug, 1983], and the Hon Arthur Vestey [born in 1985], and a daughter, the Hon Mary Henrietta Vestey [born in 1992]. 

Her eldest son served the Queen as a Page of Honour, 1995-98. 

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David John Mordaunt 1937-2020

 _. David Mordaunt, the former Sussex cricketer, teacher and expeditioner, scion of the Mordaunt baronets, died 28 November, 2020. He was 83.

David John Mordaunt was born 24 August, 1937, son of Eustace John Mordaunt [1901-88], and his wife the former Anne Frances Gilmour [1916-76].

He was a great-great grandson of Sir John Mordaunt, 9th Baronet [1808-45].

Mordaunt was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium-fast. He made his first-class debut in 1958 for Sussex in the game against Oxford University, scoring 96 in the second innings, when he was caught trying to hit his fourth six, which would have given him a century on debut. From 1958 to 1960, Mordaunt played 19 first-class matches for Sussex as an amateur, his final match for the county coming against Gloucestershire in the 1960 County Championship. He scored 586 runs for Sussex at a batting average of 24.41, with five half-centuries and highest score of 96. With the ball he took 19 wickets at a bowling average of 28.89, with a single five wicket haul of 5 for 42.

Mordaunt left Sussex at the end of the 1960 season. He played his final first-class match in 1964 for Marylebone Cricket Club against Ireland. With the MCC he also toured North America in 1959, South America in 1964-65, and North America again in 1967.

In 1964 Mordaunt joined the minor county Berkshire, and made his Minor Counties Championship debut against Devon. From 1964 to 1974, he played 40 Minor Counties Championship matches for Berkshire. He made his List A debut for Berkshire against Somerset in the 1st round of the 1965 Gillette Cup, scoring 60, including four sixes off the bowling of Bill Alley, and winning the man of the match award. He played three further one-day matches for the county, against Hertfordshire in the 1st round of the 1966 Gillette Cup, against Gloucestershire in the 2nd round of the same tournament, and finally against Hertfordshire in the 1976 Gillette Cup. In his four one-day matches he scored 144 runs at an average of 36.00, with two half-centuries and a highest score of 60. With the ball he took three wickets at an average of 44.00, with best figures of 3/24.

His grandfather, Gerald Mordaunt [1873-1959], played first class cricket for Oxford University, Kent County Cricket Club, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the Gentlemen and other amateur sides between 1893 and 1904, and his great-grandfather, John Mordaunt [1837-1923], was also a cricketer.

Mordaunt taught mathematics at Wellington College, and was also a noted expeditioner, leading three Royal Geographical Schools Expeditions to the Arctic and, in 1983, a Royal Geographical Society expedition through Nepal to the base of Annapurna.

He married in 1990 [divorced 2002], Dr Catharine Hilary Mayne, daughter of John Fraser Mayne, CB.

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Sir Richard Henry Clay, 7th Baronet 1940-2020

 _. Sir Richard Clay, 7th Baronet, died 28 November, 2020. He was 80. 

Richard Henry Clay was born 2 June, 1940, the son of Sir Henry Felix Clay, 6th Baronet [1909-1985], and his wife the former Phyllis Mary Paramore [died 1997]; and succeeded to the baronetcy on his father's death in July, 1985; educated at Eton; FCA. He married 14 September, 1963, Alison Mary Fife, daughter of Dr James Gordon Fife, by whom he had issue, three sons and two daughters. The eldest son, Charles Richard Clay, born 18 Dec, 1965, succeeds to the baronetcy, created in 1841, for his ancestor, William Clay, MP for Tower Hamlets, and Secretary of the Board of Control for India, 1839-41, &c.

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Calum John Slaney Rollo 1953-2020

 _. Calum John Slaney Rollo, who died 21 November, 2020, aged 67, was a scion of the Lords Rollo [Lordship of Scotland, cr 1651, & Baron Dunning, Peerage of the UK, cr 1869]. He was born 20 February, 1953, son of Alexander David Rollo [1909-1974], and his wife the former Margaret Valmai Wilmot [d 17 May, 1961]; married 1980, Lindsay Froggatt [born 1953], daughter of George D.H. Froggatt, and his wife the former Isabel Russell, by whom he had issue, a son Euan, and two daughters, Philippa and Elizabeth.

Calum Rollo was a great-grandson of John, 10th Lord Rollo [1835-1916].

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Douglas James Dundas [born 2020]

 _. Sophie Elizabeth Dundas [nee Garnier, born 1988], wife of Ralph William Dundas 3rd of Airdbheith [born 1988], head of that landed gentry family, and descended from the Barons Walsingham, gave birth to a son, Douglas James, 23 Oct, 2020, a brother for Frank William, who was born 21 June, 2019.

Ralph Dundas is a son of the late [Robert] Alexander Dundas of Airdbheith [1947-2003], by his wife the former Sarah Rosalind Wilson [born 1953], a granddaughter maternally of Sir James Lithgow, 1st Baronet [1883-1952].

Sophie Dundas is the second daughter of Maj [James] Hugh Garnier [b 7 Apr 1948], by his wife the former Katherine Puckle.

Douglas's Walsingham lineage:-

8th Baron Walsingham-->Hon Lavender de Grey-->Maj Hugh Garnier-->Sophie Garnier-->Douglas Dundas

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 He m c2014 Sophia Elizabeth (b 1988) d of Maj James Hugh GARNIER (b 1948, gs of the 8th Baron WALSINGHAM DSO OBE JP DL (1884-1965)), and Katherine Hale d of J H PUCKLE of Foxton House, Cambridgeshire. Their 1st s Frank William b 21 June 2019.

Matilda Alice Blanshard [born 2020]

 _. Georgina Sarah Blanshard [nee Garnier, born 1989], wife of Thomas James William Blanshard [born 1989], and descended from the Barons Walsingham, gave birth to a daughter, Matilda Alice, 22 November, 2020.

Georgina is the third daughter of Major [James] Hugh Garnier [born 7 Apr 1948], and his wife the former Katherine Puckle.

Thomas is a son of Michael Thomas William Blanshard [born 1954], and his wife the former Philippa Janje Hardman.

Matilda's Walsingham descent:-

8th Baron Walsingham-->Hon Lavender de Grey-->Maj Hugh Garnier-->Georgina Garnier-->Matilda Blanshard.

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Hon Elizabeth Anne Robertson 1931-2020

 _. The Hon Elizabeth Anne Robertson, who died 20 November, 2020, aged 89, was born in 1931, a daughter of General the Baron Bourne, GCB, KBE, CMG [1902-1902], life peer, distinguished military figure, by his wife the former Agnes Evelyn Thompson [1901-90]; she married in 1952, Maj Ian McKay Robertson [1927-1984], by whom she had four sons, Charles, Jollyon, Rupert and Mark.

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Marlowe/Osborne engagement

 _. The engagement was announced 28 September, 2020, between Benjamin Marlowe [born 16 Aug, 1969], son of Derek Marlowe, and his former wife the former Susan Rose [Suki] Phipps [born 27 Apr, 1941], and Emma Osborne, daughter of Mr & Mrs Alan Osborne.

Benjamin Marlowe is a grandson of Lieut Alan Phipps, RN [1915-43], and his wife the Hon Veronica Nell Fraser [1920-2005], scion of the Lord Lovat, daughter of the 14th Lord Lovat [1871-1933].

Benjamin's mother, now Mrs Suki Paravicini, has been thrice wed [1] in 1959 [div 1968], to Richard St Clair de la Mare [1936-2015], grandson of Walter de la Mare, OM [1873-1956], the poet; [2] in 1968 [div 1986], to Derek Marlowe, and [3], in 1986, to Capt Nicolas Vincent Somerset Paravicini [born 1937], a grandson of the writer [William] Somerset Maugham, CH [1874-1965].

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India Hicks engaged to David Flint Wood

 _. After a partnership of almost twenty five years and four children, India Hicks and David Flint Wood have decided to make it official and have announced their engagement in the Daily Telegraph.

Writer India Amanda Caroline Hicks [born 5 September, 1967], whose home is at Harbour Island, the Bahamas, is a granddaughter of the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, a cousin of the British Royal Family, and was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Lady Diana Spencer and the Prince of Wales in 1981.

India is the younger daughter of the late designer David Nightingale Hicks [1929-98], and his wife the Lady Pamela Carmen Louise Mountbatten [born 19 Apr, 1929], who was Lord Mountbatten's younger daughter.

India's is to wed David Flint Wood [born 3 March, 1961], a son of Derek and Wendy Flint Wood, is a former Saatchi & Saatchi advertising executive, by whom she has four children, Felix, 23, Amory, 21, Conrad, 17, and Domino, 12. The Flint Woods are also legal guardians of Bahamian teenager, Wesley.

India Hicks, a great-great-great granddaughter of Queen Victoria, is, according to Wikipedia, 678th in line of succession to the Throne.

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