Commander Michael Bernard Casement, OBE, RN 1933-2026

Commander Michael Bernard Casement, OBE, RN, who died 15 May, 2026, aged 93, was a scion of that Irish landed gentry family.

He was a kinsman of Sir Roger Casement (1864-1916), the diplomat and Irish nationalist executed for treason in the First World War.

He was born 23 January, 1933, the elder son of Capt Roddie Casement, OBE, RN (1907-87), and his wife the former Elisabeth Kathleen Greenwell (1908-2002), daughter of Sir Bernard Greenwell, 2nd Baronet (1874-1939); and married 3 November, 1956, Christina Rose Maclean (born 1933), daughter of Capt John Cassilis Maclean, CB, RN (1893-1983), and his wife the former Margaret Isobel Randolph, scion of that landed gentry family, by whom he had issue, a son, William (born 27 January, 1961), and two daughters, Rachel (born 18 September, 1957), and Flora (born 1959).

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Patrick Henry Sclater 1944-2026

Patrick Henry Sclater, who died 12 May, 2026, aged 82, was a scion of that landed gentry family.

He was born 9 January, 1944, son of Henry Nicolai Sclater (1912-2003), and his wife the former Suzanna Mary Agnew (1907-1993), scion of the Agnew of Lochnaw baronets; and married 6 July, 1968, Rosalyn Heather Stephenson, daughter of Urban George Eric Stephenson, by whom he had four children, William, Alastair, Peter and Heather.

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Bridget Mary Foot (née Malcolm) 1935-2026

 Bridget Mary Foot (née Malcolm), who died in France, 17 May, 2026, aged 90, was a scion of the landed gentry family of Malcolm of Poltalloch.

She was born 12 June, 1935, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel George Ian Malcolm, 18th of Poltalloch (1903-1976), and his first wife the former Enid Sybil Gaskell (1907-2006); and married 26 September, 1956, Dennis Frederick Foot, son of Frederick Foot, by whom she had issue, two sons, Nicholas Rupert Ian (1958-2017), and Mark Jonathan Malcolm (born 25 Apr, 1960).

Bridget is alleged to be descended from Prince Louis of Battenberg and Lillie Langtry:-

Louis Battenberg, 1st Marquess of Milford Haven = Lillie Langtry > Jeanne Marie Langtry = Sir Ian Malcolm > Lt-Col George Ian Malcolm  = Enid Gaskell > Bridget Mary Malcolm (d 2026)

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Thomson/Bradstock engagement

The engagement was announced 23 May, 2026, between Daniel J.S. Thomson, son of Sir Adam McClure Thomson, KCMG (born 1 July, 1955), of Chiswick, London, who served as Permanent Representative to NATO, 2014-2016, by his Iranian-born wife, Fariba Shirazi, and Camilla Rose Bradstock (born 29 June, 1996), scion of that landed gentry family, daughter of Rupert John Bradstock (born 8 October, 1958), of Trinity, Jersey, and his wife the former Anna Louise Riley (born 18 October, 1962), descended from the Viscounts Molesworth.

Daniel Thomson comes from a line of distinguished knights:

Sir Joseph John Thomson (1856-1940), physicist > Sir George Paget Thomson (1892-1975), Nobel Prize winning physicist > Sir John Adam Thomson, GCMG (1927-2018), diplomat >Sir Adam McClure Thomson (b 1955)

Cara Alexandra Hue Drury (born 2026)

 Jacqueline Florence Drury [née Clifton-Brown, born 1983], wife of Jonathan Hugh Drury [born 1982], gave birth to a second daughter, Cara Alexandra Hue, 11 March, 2026, a sister for Elizabeth Catherine Rose, who was born 31 December, 2017, and for Alice Florence Yolande, born 31 December, 2020.

Jonathan Drury is a son of Reginald Hugh Drury [1939-2015], of Farley Hill, Berkshire, and his wife the former Sarah E. Rowe. Jonathan married in 2015, Jacqueline Clifton-Brown, scion of the Brown baronets [cr 1863], daughter of Geoffrey Robert Clifton-Brown, MP [born 23 March, 1953], Conservative MP for the Cotswolds, and his former wife Alexandra Mary Peto-Shepherd.

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Orlando Arthur James O'Conor (born 2026)

 Lucinda Sophie Rose O'Conor (née James, born 1989), wife of Matthew David O'Conor (born 1989), gave birth to a son, Orlando Arthur James, 5 May, 2026.

Lucinda is a daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Cullen Daron James, and his wife the former Fiona Martha Alison Rhys (born 28 June, 1962), scion of the Barons Dynevor.

Matthew David O'Conor is a twin son of Richard Shawn O'Conor (born 30 September, 1951), and his wife the former Julia Mary Myfanwy Williams (born 13 April, 1952), scion of the Williams baronets, daughter of Sir (Michael) Osmond Williams, 2nd and last Baronet (1914-2012).

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Flora Isabella Jean Clifton-Brown (born 2026)

  Georgiana Isabella Clifton-Brown [née Heneage, born 1988], wife of Edward Robert Clifton-Brown [born 1985], scion of the Brown baronets, gave birth to a daughter, Flora Isabella Jean, 1 May, 2026, a sister for Arthur Robert, who was born 15 June, 2020, and for Rory Benedict, born 10 April, 2022. 

Edward Clifton-Brown is a son of Sir Geoffrey Robert Clifton-Brown, MP, FRICS [born 23 March, 1953], Conservative MP for The Cotswolds, of Daglingworth, Gloucestershire, by his former wife wife the former Alexandra Mary Peto-Shepherd [born 1955], of Lechlade, Gloucestershire.

Georgiana is a daughter of Robert John Heneage [born 1956], of North Carlton, Lincolnshire, by his wife the former Mayann Louise Milne. The Heneages descend from the Earls of Morton.

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Sarah, Lady Wiggin 1937-2026

Sarah, Lady Wiggin, who died 9 May, 2026, was the second wife and widow of Major Sir John Henry Wiggin, 4th Baronet, MC (1921-1992).

She was born in 1937 daughter of Brigadier Stewart Arthur Forster (1899-1965), Coldstream Guards, and his wife the former Dorothy Helena Charles Gervers (1905-1964), and married 8 February, 1963, John Henry Wiggin (born 3 March, 1921), son of Colonel Sir Charles Richard Henry Wiggin, 3rd Baronet (1885-1972), and his wife the former Mabel Violet Mary Jaffray (1890-1961), daughter of Sir William Jaffray, 2nd Baronet (1852-1914), Her husband succeeded to the baronetcy on his father's death, 16 September, 1972, and died in 1992.

Lady Wiggin leaves two sons, Daniel (born 21 Jan, 1964), and Jeremy (born 16 July, 1966).

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Morgan/Brudenell engagement

Jordan Brudenell.

The engagement has been announced between Arik Surakriengsak (Ricky) Morgan (born 1996), son of John David Morgan, and his wife the former Nipa Surakriengsak, and Jordan Anne Brudenell (born 1 July, 1995), second daughter of Jeremy Alexander Rothwell Brudenell (born 2 April, 1960), and his wife Edwina Victoria Louise Hicks (born 24 December, 1961), elder daughter of David Nightingale Hicks (1929-1998), and his wife Lady Pamela Carmen Louise Mountbatten (born 19 April, 1929), younger daughter of Admiral of the Fleet The 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, KStJ, DSO, ADC, PC, FRS (1900-1979).

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Viscount Corry engaged to Amelia Duncan

 The engagement was announced 22 May, 2026, between John Armar Galbraith Lowry-Corry, styled Viscount Corry (born 2 November, 1985), son and heir of the 8th Earl of Belmore (born 4 September, 1951), of Castle Coole, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, by his wife the Lady Mary Jane Meade (born 12 July, 1952), and Amelia Eleanor Grace Duncan (born 1992), elder daughter of Stephen Leslie Duncan, of Marlow, Buckinghamshire, and Mrs Victoria M.R. Duncan (nee Saunders, born 1958), of Oxford.

Viscount Corry is a maternal grandson of the 6th Earl of Clanwilliam (1914-1989).

It will be Viscount Corry's second marriage. He married firstly, 30 July, 2016, Francesca Vasapolli, daughter of Guido Vasapolli, of Turin.

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Rafferty John Lavallin Puxley (born 2026)

 Clare Louise Puxley (née Allan, born 1991), wife of John Edward Lavallin (Johnnie) Puxley (born 6 February, 1990), scion of that landed gentry family, gave birth to a son, Rafferty John Lavallin, 7 May, 2026.

Clare is a daughter of Anthony R. Allan (born 1958), of Wandsworth, London, and his wife the former Gillian Patricia Anne Newman (born 1960).

Johnnie Puxley  is a son of Charles John Lavallin Puxley, of Easton, Berkshire, by his wife the former Sarah Elizabeth Gamon.

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Olive Isabel Hogg (born 2026)

 Alice Elizabeth Hogg (née Ponsonby, born 1988), scion of the Ponsonby baronets, and wife of Andrew A.J. Hogg, gave birth to a daughter, Olive Isabel, 9 April, 2026.

Alice is the only daughter of Sir Charles Ashley Ponsonby, 3rd Baronet [born 10 June, 1951], of Woodstock, Oxfordshire, and his wife the former Mary Priscilla Bromley-Davenport [born 13 September, 1951], scion of that landed gentry family.

Andrew Hogg is the younger son of the late [Adam] Ronald Hogg, CBE [1951-2019], and Mrs Jane Hogg, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

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Marjorie Ruth Yelverton (née Hall) (died 2026)

Marjorie Ruth Yelverton (née Hall), died 12 March, 2026, aged 97.

Marjorie Yelverton.

She was a daughter of Arthur William Hall, of Gisborne, New Zealand, and married in 1949, Michael Curran Yelverton (1928-2001), a scion of the Viscounts Avonmore, a peerage dormant since 1910.

Her husband was a son of Barry Augustus Yelverton (1895-1960), and his wife Margaret Ethel Green (who died 1970), daughter of John Thomas Green, of Christchurch, New Zealand.

She leaves two sons, Kevin Barry Yelverton (born 1949), and Mark Amour Yelverton (born 1961), and was predeceased by daughter, Sharon Anne, in 2023.

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Veronica Henderson (nee Pain) (died 2026)

 Veronica Henderson (nee Pain), died 15 May, 2026, aged 85.

She was the daughter of Ralph Pain, and married 28 June, 1961, Ian Brodie Henderson (born 25 October, 1930), son of Neil Brodie Henderson (1904-1982), and his wife the former Conn Madden (1908-1979), daughter of Admiral Sir Charles Edward Madden, 1st Baronet, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCMG (1862-1935), who served as the First Sea Lord in the 1920s.

She leaves issue, two sons, Nicholas (born 3 May, 1963), and James (born 30 Dec, 1964), and a daughter, Lavinia (born 9 May, 1962), wife of James Newman Gilbey (born 4 October, 1956), scion of the Gilbey baronets.

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Leigh/Peat engagement

 The engagement was announced 20 May, 2026, between the Hon Rupert Dudley Leigh (born 21 February, 1994), son and heir of the 6th Baron Leigh (born 20 October, 1960), of Gloucestershire, and Sophy, Baroness Leigh (nee Sophy-Ann Burrows, born 1963), of Wiltshire, & Freya Ann Katharine Peat (born 1998), daughter of Simon Karl Peat (born 1968), of Derbyshire, and Mrs Lara Peat-Dixon (nee Countess Lara Pavlovna Ignatieff, born 1967), of North Yorkshire, daughter of Count Paul Vladimirov Ignatieff (1936-2024).

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Earl Spencer marries Catrine Jarman

 The marriage took place Friday 15 May, 2026, in Arizona, United States, between Charles Edward Maurice [Spencer], 9th Earl Spencer (b 20 May 1964), only surviving son of the late 8th Earl Spencer, MVO (1924-1992), by his 1st wife, the Hon Frances Ruth Burke Roche (1936-2004), scion of the Barons Fermoy, & Mrs Catrine Jarman (nee Lie, born in Norway, 1982), an archaeologist.

It is Earl Spencer's fourth matrimonial adventure. He married firstly, 16 September, 1989 (div.1997), Catherine Victoria Lockwood; married 2ndly, 15 December, 2001 (div. 2007), Caroline Victoria Hutton; and married 3rdly, 18 June, 2011 (div.), Karen Villeneuve.

Earl Spencer has a son and three daughters with his first wife, a son and a daughter with his second wife, and a daughter with his third wife.

The new countess studied archaeology at the University of Bristol where she received her doctorate degree in 2017, per her bio on her literary agency’s website. Her research focused on the late 9th century Viking Great Army in Derbyshire, England, which she learned about through studying a mass Viking grave site of over 300 people. Her findings later informed the 2019 documentary Britain’s Viking Graveyard and PBS’ The Lost Viking Army. Countess Spencer is an honorary senior research associate at the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology at the school and the director of the archaeological research unit.

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Lakin/Mactaggart marriage

 The marriage has taken place between Henry Lyon Lakin (born 1991), scion of the Lakin baronets, younger son of Mark Philip Lakin (1941-2025), of Over Worton, Oxfordshire, and his wife the former Christina Lisa Josephine Dolan (born 1950); and Kinvara Mary Mactaggart (born 1992), daughter of Sir John Auld Mactaggart, 4th Baronet (born 1951), of Ardmore, Islay, and his second wife the former Caroline Emma Williams (born 1963).

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Hepburn/Merriam engagement

The engagement was announced 19 May, 2026, between Patrick Frankland Hepburn (born 1989), eldest son of Stuart Frankland Hepburn (born 1954), of Great Canfield, Essex, and his wife the former Alison Bayne, & Georgina Clare Merriam (born 4 February, 1990), daughter of Richard Henry Faber Merriam (born 1957), of Faygate, West Sussex, and his wife the former Penelope Jane Gidley-Kitchin (born 1958), descended from the Viscounts Dillon.

Georgina Merriam is descended from the Marquesses of Ailsa and Viscounts Dillon:-

3rd Marquess of Ailsa (1847-1938) > Lady Marjory Kennedy (1898-1988) > Peter Merriam (1922-2004) > Richard Merriam (b 1957) > Georgina Merriam (b 1990)

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Christopher George Peake 1951-2026

 Christopher George Peake died 2 April, 2026, aged 74, scion of the Peake family (later Viscounts Ingleby).

He was born 20 May, 1951, third son of Edward Charles Peake (1911-1999), and his wife the former Baroness Maria Santina Franziska Gabriella von Henikstein (1911-1999); and married 1993, Ann Marie O'Rourke, by whom he had a son, Matthew (born 25 September, 2002), and a daughter, Rebecca (born 8 June, 2000).

Christopher Peake descends from the 1st Earl of Zetland:-

1st Earl of Zetland (1766-1839) > Hon John Charles Dundas (1808-66) > John Charles Dundas (1845-92) > Evelyn Mary Dundas (1873-1945) > Edward Peake (1911-99) (brother of the 1st Viscount Ingleby) > Christopher Peake (1951-2026)

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Assheton/Frusher engagement

The engagement was announced 19 May, 2026, between James Charles Assheton (born 19 March, 1999), scion of the Barons Clitheroe, second son of the Hon John Hotham Assheton (born 12 July, 1964), of Milton, Oxfordshire, and his wife the former Amanda Ellen Freeman (born 1965), & Héloïse Sarah H. Frusher (born 1999), the only daughter of David Michael Frusher (born 1959), of Aston le Walls, Northamptonshire, and his wife the former Julia Mary Russell Allen (born 1961).

James Assheton is a grandson of the 2nd Baron Clitheroe (1929-2026).

Héloïse Frusher is descended from the Lords Borthwick:-

19th Lord Borthwick (1813-85) > Hon Mary Frances Harriet Borthwick (1876-1939) > James Borthwick Dowdall (1910-1962) > Anne Pauline Borthwick Dowdall (1933-2024) > Julia Mary Russell Allen (b 1961) > Héloïse Frusher (b 1999)

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Siegfried Phoenix Hector Salt-Strickland (born 2026)

Freya Salt, wife (or partner?) of Francis Richard Hornyold-Strickland (born 18 September, 1986), barrister, scion of that landed gentry family, of Sizergh Castle, gave birth to a son, Siegfried Phoenix Hector, at home in Athens, 2 May, 2026, a brother for Cosima and Isolde.

Francis is the son of Robert Francis Michael Hornyold-Strickland (born 31 October, 1954), and his first wife Teresa Mary Fawcett, and a grandson of Thomas Henry Hornyold-Strickland, 7th Count della Catena, DSC (1921-1983).

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Robert Gwynn Cottam 1934-2026

 Robert Gwynne Cottam died 11 May, 2026. 

He was born in 1934, son of Major-General Algernon Edward Cottam, CB, CBE, MC (1894-1964), of Bodiam, Sussex, and his wife the former Margaret Eileen Haselden (1901-1990); and married 7 October, 1967, Morella Cumberland Walker (born 13 April, 1942), scion of the Walker baronets of Sand Hutton, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Gerald Bartholomew Walker (1912-1999), and his wife the former Margaret Cumberland Templeton (1913-1987), by whom he had issue, two sons, Charles (born 1 June, 1969), and Henry (born 4 Oct, 1973), and a daughter, Rosemary (born 22 July, 1971).

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Baroness Lamont of Lerwick 1946-2026

Baroness Lamont of Kerwick, who died 6 May, 2026, aged 79, was the former wife of the Baron Lamont of Lerwick, who as Norman Lamont, MP, PC, was Chancellor of the Exchequer in the administration of John Major.

She was Alice Rosemary White, born in 1946, a daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Conrad White (1915-1993), of Hall Farm House, Thorp Arch, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, by his wife the former Marion Winter; and married 1971 (div. 1999), Norman Stewart Hughson Lamont (born 8 May, 1942), son of Daniel Lamont, OBE, of Lerwick, and his wife Helen Irene, by whom she had issue, a son, Hilaire James Lamont (born 1974), and a daughter, Sophie Caroline (born 1978).

Her former husband was Conservative MP for Kingston-upon-Thames 1972 to 1997, served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy 1979-81, Minister of State for Trade and Industry, 1981-1985, Minister of State for Defence Procurement 1985-1986, Financial Secretary to the Treasury 1986-1989, Chief Secretary to the Treasury 1989-90, and Chancellor of the Exchequer 1990-1993, and was raised to the peerage for life in 1998, as Baron Lamont of Lerwick, of Lerwick in the Shetland Islands.

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