Adrian Neil Raeburn McAlpine DL 1944-2025

 Adrian Neil Raeburn McAlpine, DL, who died 17 January, 2025, aged 80, was a scion of the baronets of that name, and was a director of the family firm Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd.

He was born 23 December, 1944, the eldest son of Lt-Col Malcolm Hugh Dees McAlpine (1917-2012), and his wife the former Sheila Margaret Price (who died 6 Oct, 2006); and married 1983, Angela Mary Hickie (1951-2022), scion of that Irish landed family, daughter of George Charles Hickie (1917-1985) and his wife the former Elizabeth Frances Crist (1924-2014), by whom he had issue, a son Angus (born 1993), and two daughters, Antonia (born 1984), and Olivia (born 1986).

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Lady Airy, wife of Maj Gen Sir Christopher Airy (died 2025)

Lady Airy, who died 14 January, 2025, aged 89, was the wife of Major General Sir Christopher John Airy, KCVO, CBE (born 8 March 1934), who served as General Officer Commanding the London District and Major-General commanding the Household Division from 1986 to 1989.

She was the former Judith Stephenson and married Christopher Airy in 1959. She leaves one son and two daughters. Her daughter Lydia Lucinda was the first wife of the 21st Baron Teynham.

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Forte/Wright engagement

 The engagement was announced 24 January, 2025, between Charles Giovanni P.G. Forte (born London, 1992), son of the Hon Rocco Giovanni Forte (born 18 January, 1945), of Chelsea, London and Rome, and his wife the former Aliai Giovanna Maria Ricci, and Georgina M. Wright, youngest daughter of Mr & Mrs David Wright, of Kensington, London, and Auckland, New Zealand.

Charles Forte is the grandson of Charles Forte, the Baron Forte (1908-2007), life peer.

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Capt Charles William David Worthington 1930-2024

 Capt Charles William David Worthington, who died 24 November, 2024, aged 94, was a scion of the brewing family of that name and a great-grandson of 'Daisy' Countess of Warwick, sometime mistress of King Edward VII.

Worthington was sometime chairman of Ballet Rambert.

He was born 21 February, 1930, son of William Greville Worthington, RNVR (1903-1942), and his wife the Lady Mary Diana Duncombe (1905-1943), daughter of the 2nd Earl of Feversham (1879-1916), and his wife Lady Marjorie Blanche Eva Greville (1884-1964), daughter of the 5th Earl of Warwick (1953-1923), and his wife Frances Evelyn (Daisy) Maynard (1861-1938).

He married firstly, 1956 (div 1970), Camilla Crawley (1936-2018), scion of that landed family, daughter of Maj. Cosmo Stafford Crawley (1904-1989), and his wife the former Rosemary Christie-Miller (1907-1999); and married 2ndly, 1971, Mrs Sarah Susan Peto (born 6 Aug, 1942), former wife of Michael Henry Basil Peto (later Sir Michael Peto, 4th Baronet 1938-2008), and 4th daughter of Maj Sir Dennis Frederick Bankes Stucley, 5th Baronet (1907-1983), and his wife the former Hon Sheila Margaret Warwick Bampfylde (1912-1996), daughter of the 4th Baron Poltimore (1882-1965).

From his first marriage he leaves a son, David (born 1962), and from his second marriage a daughter, Anna (born 1972).

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Caroline Nicola Payne (née Woodwark) 1943-2025

 Caroline Nicola Payne, who died 16 January, 2025, aged 81, was a granddaughter of the Barons Southborough.

She was born Caroline Nicola Woodwark, 28 December, 1943, daughter of Peter Antony Woodwark, RNVR ( who was killed in action, 1943), and his wife the Hon Moira Hopwood (1919-2021), daughter of the 3rd Baron Southborough (1897-1982); and married 18 February, 1966, Richard Hugh Payne (born 1941), son of Hugh Frederick Payne (1916-1965), by his wife the former Betty Mary Langslow Bishop, by whom she had issue, two sons and two daughters.

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Julian Richard Whately 1949-2025

  Julian Richard Whately, who died 20 January, 2025, aged 75, was a scion of that landed gentry family.

He was born 10 August, 1949, the son of Gerald Arthur Whately, OBE (1919-1985), and his wife the former Nina Abigail Finlayson (1921-1994); and married 1973, Clare M.S. Hallett (born 1948), by whom he has three sons, (Richard) Marcus (born 1977), Hugo Thomas (born 1979), and Benjamin William (born 1980).

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Gabriel Arthur Fitzgerald-Wilkins (born 13 Jan 2025)

Atalanta Rose Wilkins (nee Fitzgerald, born 1992), wife of Eric Arthur Wilkins (born 1987), gave birth to a son, Gabriel Arthur Fitzgerald-Wilkins, 13 January, 2025.

Eric Wilkins is the youngest son of Barry Wilkins (born 1957),  by his wife the former Helen Slyomovics.

Atalanta is the younger daughter of Edward Hamilton Fitzgerald CBE, QC (born 1953), by his wife the former Rebecca Rose Fraser (born 1957) scion of the Lords Lovat, daughter of the Rt Hon Sir Hugh Fraser, MBE (1918-84), by his wife the writer Lady Antonia Pakenham (born 1933), daughter of the 7th Earl of Longford, KG, PC (1905-2001).

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Kelly/Single engagement

The engagement was announced 22 January, 2025, between James Charles (Jamie) Kelly (born 1995), youngest son of Major James Richard Kelly, of Angus, and his former wife Susannah Maria Scott (born 1963), scion of the Scott baronets & Katharine Wallace (Kitty) Single (born 1995), youngest daughter of James Vallack (Jamie) Single (born 1959), of Midlothian, and his wife the former Suzanne Wallace Adam (born 1962).

Jamie Kelly is a grandson maternally of Sir James Walter Scott, 2nd Baronet (1924-1993).

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Elizabeth Violet Grizel Inge-Innes-Lillingston 1925-2025

 Elizabeth Violet Grizel Inge-Innes-Lillingston, died 9 January, 2025, aged 99.

She was Lady of the Manor of Thorpe Constantine and Patron of the Livings of Thorpe Constantine and Newton Regis.

She was born 5 May, 1925, a daughter of Lieutenant-General Sir William Montgomerie Thomson, KCMG, CB, MC (1877-1963), of Milton Brodie, Morayshire, and his first wife Ethel Violet Davidson (died 1927), daughter of Duncan Davidson, of Inchmarlo, Aberdeenshire; and married 2 July, 1955, as his second wife, George David Inge-Innes-Lillingston, RNVR (1923-2002), son of Commander Hugh William Innes Lillingston, RN (1878-1952), of Loch Alsh House, Ross-shire, by his wife the former Amy Margaret Milne-Home, scion of that landed gentry family, by whom she had issue, two sons, Hugh William (born 7 Sept, 1956), now of Thorpe Constantine, and Michael George (born 19 June, 1959), and a daughter, Susan Caroline (born 16 Nov, 1962).

Elizabeth Inge-Innes-Lillingston succeeded to the Thorpe Constantine estate on the death of her cousin, Hilda Mary Inge, who died unmarried 13 July, 1963.

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Hutchinson Smith/Freer-Smith engagement

 The engagement was announced 22 January, 2025, between Hugh Charles Hutchinson Smith (born 1992), son of (Charles) Rupert Hutchinson Smith, of Hinton, Shropshire, and his wife the former Belinda Jane Gurney (born 26 Apr, 1962), scion of that landed gentry family, & Harriet Catherine Freer-Smith (born 1995), daughter of Christopher L. Freer-Smith, of Warnborough, Hampshire, and his wife the former Virginia C. Cooke.

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Diana de Vere Cole (née Crosby Cook) 1941-2025

Diana de Vere Cole, who died 12 January, 2025, aged 83, was a figurative artist, and sometime wife of Tristan de Vere Cole (born 16 March, 1935), an English TV director believed to be an illegitimate son of the painter Augustus John.

She was born Diana Crosby Cook, 29 January, 1941, and married in 1962, Tristan John de Vere Cole, son of Mabel Winifred Mary Wright (known as Mavis) (1908-1970), who had married in 1931, (William) Horace de Vere Cole (1881-1936), son of Maj William Utting Cole (1851-1892), and his wife Mary O'Brien de Vere (1859-1930), a scion of the de Vere baronets, who claimed kinship with the de Vere Earls of Oxford. Mavis Cole became August John's mistress in the early 1930s.

Diana de Vere Cole leaves a son, Cassian de Vere Cole (born 1966).

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Matilda Esme Sancroft-Baker (born 16 Jan. 2025)

 Annabel Rose Sancroft-Baker (née Henderson, born 1989), wife of Hugh Jasper Sancroft-Baker [born 1987], gave birth to a daughter, Matilda Esme, 16 January, 2025, a sister for Felix Samuel, who was born 13 October, 2022.

Annabel Sancroft-Baker is scion of the Barons Faringdon, daughter of the Hon James Harold Henderson [born 1961], of Buscot Park, co Oxford, by his wife the former Lucinda Maria Hanson. The Hon James Henderson is the son and heir of the 3rd Baron Faringdon [born 1937].

Hugh is a son of Raymond Samuel Sancroft-Baker [born 1950], of Swalcliffe Lea, co Oxon, by his wife the former [Daphne] Caroline Adams.  Hugh's paternal grandmother was a Heron-Maxwell, of the baronets of that name.

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The Baron Rook

 The life barony recently conferred upon the Rev Dr Russell Rook has been gazetted in the name, style and title of Baron Rook.

Lord Rook, OBE - is Partner at the Good Faith Partnership and Anglican priest.

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Baron Barber of Ainsdale

The life peerage recently conferred upon Sir Brendan Barber has been gazetted in the name, style and title of Baron Barber of Ainsdale.

Lord Barber of Ainsdale is a former General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress and former chair of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

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Dangerfield/Beatty engagement

 The engagement was announced 20 January, 2025, between (Thomas) Henry G. Dangerfield (born 1996), only son of (Thomas) Christian Dangerfield (born 1965), of Bitterley Hyde House, Herefordshire, and his wife Camilla E.L. Milton (born 1959), & Emily Mary Violet Beatty (born 1994), scion of the Earls Beatty, the only daughter of the Hon Nicholas Beatty (born 1 April, 1961), of Salcey Lawn, Northamptonshire, and his former wife, the former Laura Mary Catherine Keen (born 1 May, 1963), now of Isther Cottage, Bath.

Emily Beatty is a granddaughter of the late 2nd Earl Beatty (1905-1972).

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Nicholas Greenaway Mills 1935-2025

 Nicholas Greenaway Mills died 12 January, 2025. He was a scion of that landed gentry family, of Little Barrington. He served in the 15th/19th Hussars.

He was born 6 Dec, 1935, the second son of Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Breynton Yarnton Mills, OBE, MC (1900-1974), by his wife Esther Greenaway Hurst (1908-1999); and married 16 June, 1962, the Hon Susan Glyn (born 10 August, 1940), daughter of the 6th Baron Wolverton (1913-1988), and his wife Audrey Margaret Stubbs (1914-2007), by whom he had issue, two daughters, Charlotte (born 30 Apr, 1964), and Maria (born 8 September, 1967).

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Oscar David Jonathan Coldman (born 26 Dec, 2024)

Henrietta Julia Coldman (née Carthew, born 18 Jan, 1994), wife of Thomas Frederick John Coldman (born 1994), gave birth to a son, Oscar David Jonathan, 26 December, 2024.

Henrietta is a scion of the Carthew landed gentry family, daughter of Jonathan Peter Carthew (born 1961), and his wife the former Joanna Rachel Falcon (born 1962).

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Cunningham-Jardine/Nagorcka engagement

The engagement was announced 18 January, 2025, between Hamish M.C. Cunningham-Jardine (born 1997), descended from the Nairn baronets, eldest son of John Charles Cunningham-Jardine (born 11 November, 1961), of Tinwald, Dumfriesshire, and Mrs Cunningham-Jardine, & Tahlia M. Nagorcka, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Michael Nagorcka, of Hamilton, Australia.

Sir Michael Nairn, 2nd Baronet (1874-1952) > Constance Jane Nairn (b 1906) > Constance Inglis (1936-2016) > John Cunningham-Jardine (b 1961) > Hamish Cunningham-Jardine (b 1997)

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Pell/Gore engagement

The engagement was announced 18 January, 2025, between Edward O.S. Pell, younger son of Mr and Mrs Gerald Pell, of North Huish, Devon, and Alice Catherine Mary Gore (born 1988), scion of the Gore baronets, daughter of William Ralph St John Gore (born 31 January, 1956), of  Pencarrow, Camelford, Cornwall, and his wife the former Mary Susan Collingridge.

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Fletcher-Price/Patitisson engagement

The engagement was announced 18 January, 2025, between Jack Fletcher-Price, son of Mr & Mrs Fletcher-Price, of Eastbourne, and Honor Emily Pattisson (born 2 Aug, 1999), youngest daughter of William Thomas Pattisson (born 1963), of Winchester, Hampshire, and his wife Frances Elizabeth (Francheska) Every (born 29 June, 1964), scion of the Every baronets.

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Nigel Geoffrey Howard Pilcher 1945-2025

 Nigel Geoffrey Howard Pilcher died 12 January, 2025, aged 79.

He was born 22 December, 1945, and his home was at Edgecliff, NSW, Australia.

He married in 1980, (Frances) Anne Monckton (born 1951), scion of the Viscounts Galway, daughter of Walter John Bruce Monckton (1918-2003), and his wife the former Betty Allen Keele (who died 1974), by whom he had issue, two sons, James Howard Monckton Pilcher (born 1983), and Henry Nigel Monckton Pilcher (born 1985).

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Crichton/Mockett engagement

The engagement was announced 18 January, 2025, between Charles Patrick Vesey Crichton (born 1992), scion of the Earls of Erne, son of the late Simon Patrick Crichton (1956-2022), and his wife the former Fiona Jane Midwood (born 1958), of Alderbury, Wiltshire, & Cosima Isabella Mockett (born 3 Sept, 1992), daughter of Timothy John V. Mockett (born 1963), of Fulham, and his wife the former Felicia A.F. Hogan.

Charles Crichton is a great-great grandson of the 4th Earl of Erne (1839-1914).

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Curran/Howard engagement

 The engagement was announced 18 January, 2025, between Barnaby Guy B. Curran (born 1994), eldest son of Dominic B. Curran (born 1962), of Ellesmere, Shropshire, and his wife the former Rosemary Ormrod (born 1962), and the Hon Amelia Alexandra Howard (born 4 May, 1996), daughter of the 5th Baron Strathcona & Mount Royal (born 24 June, 1961), of Isle of Colonsay, Scotland, and his wife the former Jane Maree Gibb.

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Cosmo Henry Atticus Bethell (born 18 Nov, 2024)

 Alice Victoria R. Bethell (nee Mills, born 1991), wife of Nicholas Bethell [born 1990], a scion of the landed gentry family of Bethell of Rise, gave birth to a son, Cosmo Henry Atticus, 18 November, 2024, a brother for Rudy Casper Ludo, who was born 25 November, 2022.

Alice is the elder daughter of Andrew Mills, of Farthinghoe, Northamptonshire, and his wife the former Vanessa A. Harford. Nicholas Bethell is the 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. 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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Tamsin Elizabeth Josephine Vestey (born 7 Jan, 2025)

Emily Vestey (nee Harris), wife of Thomas Hector Moubray (Tom) Vestey (born 1993), scion of the Vestey baronets, gave birth to a daughter, Tamsin Elizabeth Josephine, 7 January, 2025, a sister for Sebastian.

Tom Vestey is a son of George Moubray William Vestey (born 1964), of Great Thurlow, Suffolk, and Mrs Rachel Philippa Vestey (nee Osborne), of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

Emily Vestey is a daughter of Patrick Osborne, of Currandooley, NSW, Australia.

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Major Hugh Cantlie 1932-2025

 Maj. Hugh Cantlie, FRCS, late Scots Guards, died 11 January, 2025, aged 92.

He was born in China in 1932, eldest of the three sons of Colonel Kenneth Cantlie (1899-1986), and his wife the former Phyllis Gage-Brown (1896-1965), and a grandson of Sir James Cantlie (1851-1926).

He married 26 June, 1964 (div 1967), as the third of her four husbands, the Lady Zinnia Rosemary Denison (1937-1997), daughter of the 4th Earl of Londesborough (1894-1937), and his wife the former Marigold Rosemary Joyce Lubbock (1903-1976), scion of the Lubbock baronets, by whom he had issue, a son, Charles Edgar Cantlie (born 27 Feb, 1965).

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Jennifer Mary Chettle (nee Cotton) 1943-2024

Jennifer Mary Chettle, who died 6 December, 2024, aged 81, was a scion of the Cotton baronets.

She was born 24 February, 1943, daughter of Hugh Philip Stapleton Cotton (1913-1979), and his wife the former Mary Josephine Wheeler (1915-2006); & married 5 September, 1964 (div 1983), Peter Ivan Chettle (who died 12 May, 2010), by whom she had issue, a son, Dominic (born 12 Dec, 1967), and Deborah (born 1970).

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Hazeel/Murray engagement

The engagement was announced 17 January, 2025, between James Albert Victor Hazeel (born 2 May, 1989), elder son of Francis Hazeel (born 13 February, 1945), of Cherrington, Warwickshire, and his wife the former Carolyn Robin Warrender (born 19 June, 1953), scion of the Barons Bruntisfield, & Rowena Alice Rachael Murray (born 13 June, 1993), daughter of Martin Evans and Ms Sara Murray, OBE, of London SW1.

The 1st Baron Bruntisfield > the Hon Robin Warrender > Carolyn Warrender > Jamie Hazeel

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Dame Joan Plowright, DBE 1929-2025

 Dame Joan Plowright (The Baroness Olivier), the actress, widow of the great actor Laurence Olivier, died 16 January, 2025, aged 95.

Born at Brigg, Lincolnshire, 28 Oct, 1929. Married 1stly 19, Sept1953 (div 1960) Roger Gage (1928-2018), married 2ndly 1961 Sir Laurence Oliver, who was raised to the peerage for life as Baron Olivier, and died in 1989.

Simon Baliol Brett 1943-2024

Simon Baliol Brett, who died 29 December, 2024, aged 81, an artist, wood engraver and writer, was a scion of the Viscounts Esher.

He was born 27 May, 1943, son of Major Antony Reginald Forbes Baliol Brett, MBE (1913-1981), and his wife the former Beatrice Helen Brownell (1914-1989); and was a great-grandson of the 2nd Viscount Esher (1852-1930). He married 31 August, 1974, as her second husband, Mrs Juliet Anne Shirley-Smith, daughter of Paul Hamilton Wood, OBE, by whom he had a daughter, Emily Agnes (born 4 Nov, 1977).

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