Miles/Buxton engagement

 The engagement was announced 2 July, 2026, between Edmund Oliver H. Miles (born 1997), son of Christopher M. Miles, of Surlingham, Norfolk, and his wife the former Joanna S.E. Pigott (born 1962), and Kate Patricia Mary Buxton (born 1 October, 1996), scion of the Buxton baronets, eldest daughter of Robin Anthony Buxton (born 21 February, 1963), of Horsey, Norfolk, and his wife the former Suzanna Patricia D'Arcy McCarthy.

Kate Buxton is descended from the Lords Herries of Terregles:-

The 10th Lord Herries of Terregles (1804-76) > Hon Bernard Constable-Maxwell (1848-1938) > Mary Philomena Constable-Maxwell (1893-1953) > John Joseph Buxton (1927-2014) > Robin Buxton (b 1963) > Kate Buxton (b 1996)

-=-

Mikaila Stainton (nee Lykiardopolos) (died 2026)

 Mikaila Stainton (nee Lykiardopolos), died 23 June, 2026. She was 91.

She was a daughter of Constantine Lykiardopolos, of Athens, and married 2 November, 1956, Andrew Thomas Stainton (1925-2001), second son of Sir John Armitage Stainton, KCB, KBE, QC (1888-1957), the lawyer and parliamentary draftsman, by his wife the Hon Janet Bertha Dewar (1895-1979), daughter of the 1st Baron Forteviot (1856-1929).

She leaves a son, John (born 9 Aug, 1968), and three daughters, Deborah (born 16 Nov, 1957), Joanna (born 13 July, 1959), and Antigone (born 13 May, 1962).

-=-

Humphrey Richard Woollcombe Smith 1944-2026

 Humphrey Richard Woollcombe Smith, of Oxton Hall, Tadcaster, the eccentric head of Samuel Smith's brewery, died 29 June, 2026, aged 81.

Mr Smith died on his 41st wedding anniversary.

Humphrey Smith.

The owner and chairman of the Tadcaster-based Sam Smith's Brewery was well-known for his 'traditional' policies as well as his private nature.

Smartphones, children, dogs and swearing were all banned from his pubs across the country, policies which attracted much controversy but also much support.

Mr Smith was described yesterday as a “proper gentleman” by the town’s mayor. Richard Sweeting said Mr Smith’s death marked “the end of an era.”

The flag at Samuel Smith’s brewery was flying at half mast on Tuesday, Mr Sweeting said.

Under Mr Smith’s long ownership, Samuel Smith’s 200 pubs which are run across the country gained a reputation as having strict rules, with laptops and phones barred. Swearing has also been banned within the pubs.

Mr Smith was well-known for dismissing tenants who he believed were flouting these rules, with many Sam Smiths pubs currently vacant.

The brewery, founded in 1758, still uses traditional dray horses and carts for some of its deliveries.

A large number of buildings in Tadcaster are owned by the historic brewery, as well as swathes of land both in and surrounding the town.

Mr Smith lived at Oxton Hall, a Grade II listed house just outside the town, and could often be seen walking through Tadcaster.

The Old Etonian took full control of the brewery alongside his brother Oliver (born 12 Aug, 1947), in the 1980s.

He was born 12 December, 1944, the elder son of Geoffrey Roy Holland Smith (1902-1964), and his wife the former Rosamond Margaret Stirling Woollcombe (1919-1991). His father died 9 May, 1964, and his mother died as the result of a motor accident in 1991.

He married 29 June, 1985, Julia Carlotta Gladstone (born 16 January, 1956), scion of the Gladstone landed gentry family of Capenoch, second daughter of John Gladstone of Capenoch (1908-1977), and his .wife the former Diana Rosamond Maud Fleming-Hamilton (1923-2018).

Humphrey Smith is survived by Julia, and a daughter, Maude Rosamund Gladstone Smith (born 10 April, 1986), and son, Samuel Geoffrey Gladstone Smith (born Dec. 1988).

-=-

Leslie Marshall Gore (nee Peabody) (died 2026)

 Leslie Marshall Gore (nee Peabody), died 16 June, 2026, aged 100.

She was a daughter of Benjamin Bostwick Peabody, of New York, United States, who was a 6 Gt-granddson of John Alden, the Mayflower passenger immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "The Courtship of Miles Standish", and his wife Priscilla Mullins. 

Leslie was also descended from another early settler family: the Peabody ancestor Francis 'Pebbody' who sailed to America in 1635 on board the sailing ship Planter. Another famous relation is the merchant banker and great philanthropist George Peabody (1795–1869). George's mother, Judith Dodge, was descended from the Spofford family, a dissenting family from Yorkshire, who had likewise emigrated to Massachusetts in the mid-seventeenth century. 

Leslie married 6 May, 1948, Major Humphry Gerard Napier Gore (1916-2008), scion of the Earls of Arran, and a grandson maternally of Field Marshal the 1st Baron Napier of Magdala (1810-1890), son of Colonel Edward John Mounsey Gore (1863-1949), and his wife the Hon Emilia Herbert Fullarton Napier (who died 6 Apr, 1932).

She leaves issue, three sons, Mark (b 26 Aug, 1952), Brendon (b 8 Sept, 1955), and Timothy (b 22 July, 1957).

Leslie's Mayflower descent:-

John Alden (~1599 - 1687) & Priscilla Mullins (1602 - 1680)

|

Elizabeth Alden (~1624 - 1717) & William Peabody (1620 - 1707)

|

William Peabody (1664 - 1744) & Judith (1669 - 1714)

      |

Joseph Peabody (1710 - ) & Elizabeth Briggs (1714 - )

|

Parker Peabody (1735 - 1818) & Sarah Spofford (1737 - 1812)

|

John Parker Peabody (1797 - 1842) & Amy Chapain (1763 - 1810)

      |

Benjamin Peabody (1800 - 1877) & Julia Backus Bostwick (1802 - 1874)

|

Amos Henry Peabody (1841 - ) & Sophia Waterbury (1845 - 1896)

|

Benjamin Bostwick Peabody (1879 - 1965) & Helen Frances Seaverns ( - 1969)

Leslie Marshall Peabody (d 2026) & Humphrey Gerard Napier Gore (1917 - 2008)

-=-

Cora Elizabeth Monckton (born 2026)

 Bethany Rose Monckton (nee Watkinson, born 1994), wife of Oliver George Carlos Monckton (born 29 Aug, 1993), scion of the Viscounts Galway, gave birth to a daughter, Cora Elizabeth, 8 June, 2026.

Bethany is a daughter of Dr Anthony and Dr Melanie Watkinson, of Dulford, Devon.

Oliver is the son of Piers Alastair Carlos Monckton (born 23 Oct, 1962), of Stretton, Staffordshire, and his 1st wife, Georgiana Byng (born 31 March, 1964), of Adbury, Berkshire, descended from the Lafone landed family, and Earls of Strafford.

Oliver's grandfather, Julian Michael Edmund Lafone (1928-2011), scion of that landed gentry family, who in 1969 assumed the surname of Byng in lieu of his patronymic, was a grandson maternally of the 6th Earl of Strafford (1862-1951).

-=-

Walford/Bungaroo engagement

The engagement was announced 27 June, 2026, between Edward Daniel Walford (born 1988), son of Peter Vivian Walford (born 1953), of Burwash, East Sussex, and the the Hon Claire Elizabeth Walford (nee Pennock) (born 1958), & Tamara Bungaroo (born 1989), daughter of Sen Bungaroo, of Langstone, Hampshire, and his wife the former Maria Valdes Martinez.

Edward Walford is a grandson of the life peer the Baron Pennock (1920-1993).

-=-

Robin Thomas Littleton Salmon 1943-2026

 Robin Thomas Littleton Salmon died 17 June, 2026, aged 82. He was descended from the Barons Hatherton.

He was born 3 October, 1943, the second son of Frank Robert Salmon (1910-1997), and his wife the former Patricia Jean Even Painton (1917-1997); and married 6 April, 1974, Amanda Cadbury (born circa 1947), daughter of Alan Cadbury, by whom he had issue, a son, Benjamin (born 22 Feb, 1979), and a daughter, Matilda (born 24 May, 1981).

2nd Baron Hatherton > Reat Admiral the Hon Algernon Litteton > Isobel Littleton > Frank Salmon > Robin Salmon

-=-

Kemmis Betty/Stitt engagement

 The engagement was announced 27 June, 2026, between Alexander Peter L. Kemmis Betty (born 7 November, 1984), son of Richard H. St M. Kemmis Betty, of The Queen's Own Hussars, of Milton on Stour, Dorset, and his wife the former Victoria Lacon (born 1952), scion of the Lacon baronets, & Rachael J. Stitt, elder daughter of Prof and Mrs Alan Stitt, of Killinchy, Co Down.

-=-

Wright/Coulthard engagement

The engagement was announced 27 June, 2026, between P. Caspar E. Wright,  scion of the Wright landed gentry family, son of Timothy E. (Tiff) Wright, of Dunblane, Perthshire, and his wife the former Michaela Wordie, & Tamara Coulthard (born 9 March, 1999), daughter of Roger Coulthard, of Edinburgh, and his wife the former Lucinda Miller.

-=-

  

Ruth, Baroness Wolfson 1931-2026

 Ruth, Baroness Wolfson, who has died aged 94, was the former wife of the Baron Wolfson, FRS (1927-2010), the businessman who was Chairman of Great Universal Stores.

The former Ruth Shirley Sterling was born in London, in July, 1931, daughter of Ernest Sterling, of London, and his wife nee ___ Ogus; and married 14 November, 1949 (div. 1991), Leonard Gordon Wolfson (born 11 Nov, 1927), son and heir of Sir Isaac Wolfson, 1st Baronet (1897-1991), and his wife Edith Specterman (who died in 1981). 

Leonard Wolfson was raised to the peerage for life, 13 June, 1985, as Baron Wolfson, of Marylebone in the City of Westminster, and succeeded his father in the baronetcy (created UK, 1962), in 1991.

Lord Wolfson died 20 May, 2010.

Lady Wolfson leaves issue, four daughters, Janet, Laura, Deborah and Elizabeth.

-=-

Nicholson/Legard engagement

 The engagement was announced 26 June, 2026, between Hugo Frank Nicholson (born 23 August, 1991), middle son of Frank Nicholson (born 11 February, 1954), descended from the Lawson-Tancred baronets, and his wife the former Lavinia Margaret Grace Stourton (born 1 Oct, 1962), scion of the Barons Mowbray, Segrave & Stourton, & Celia Mary Legard (born 12 December, 1996), scion of the Legard baronets, only daughter of Capt Edward Thomas Legard (born 9 Nov, 1966), of Charlcot, North Yorkshire, and his wife the former Lucy Frances Kirkpatrick (born 30 January, 1967), descended from the Viscounts Hardinge.

-=-

Camilla Mary Aston (née Minoprio) 1933-2026

 Camilla Mary Aston (née Minoprio), who died 9 June, 2026, aged 93, was a scion of the Minoprio landed gentry family. She was born 20 March, 1933, the fourth daughter of Frank Charles Minoprio (1870-1951), of Broadlands, Ascot, Berkshire, and Haulfryn, High Sheriff of Carnarvonshire in 1934, by his 2nd wife, the former Rachel Ellen Mann (1894-1979); and married 1 May, 1954, Peter Rutherford Aston (1925-1992), of Sidney House, Kinnersley, Salop, eldest son of Samuel Aston (1898-1989), of Pewit Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire, and his wife the former Isabel Rutherford (1901-1990), and she leaves issue, a son, Charles, and two daughters, Katherine and Jennifer.

-=-

The 4th Baron Forteviot 1938-2026

 The 4th Baron Forteviot, who died 22 June, 2026, aged 88, of Aberdalgie House, Perthshire, was a member of the Dewar whisky dynasty.

John James Evelyn Dewar was born 5 April, 1938, son of the 3rd Baron Forteviot (1906-1993), and his wife the former Cynthia Monica Starkie (died 1986), and was a younger brother of the Hon Caroline Dewar (born 12 Feb, 1934), who married 1stly, 1956 (div 1966), the 3rd Duke of Fife (1929-2015), cousin of Queen Elizabeth II.

He served as ADC to the Governor General of New Zealand 1962-63.

He married 17 Oct, 1963, the Lady Elizabeth Jeronima Waldegrave (1936-2003), third daughter of the 12th Earl Waldegrave, KG (1905-1995), and his wife the former Mary Hermione Grenfell (1909-1995), scion of that landed gentry family. His wife was an elder sister of Lady Susan Hussey, GCVO (born 1 May, 1939), stalwart member of Queen Elizabeth II's household and Her Majesty's long serving lady-in-waiting.

He succeeded his father, 25 March, 1993, in the Forteviot barony (created in 1917), and in the Dewar baronetcy (cr 1907). He was a member of the Royal Company of Archers, and a director of John Dewar and Sons 1977-98.

Lord Forteviot leaves issue, a son, the Hon Alexander John Edward Dewar (born 4 March, 1971), who inherits the family honours, and three daughters, Mary (who is wife of the 17th Baron Strange), Miranda and Henrietta.

-=-

Nigel Hugh Clutton, OBE 1935-2026

Nigel Hugh Clutton, OBE, FRICS, died 11 June, 2026. He was 90.

He was born at Cuckfield, Sussex, in July, 1935, son of Robin John Clutton (1897-1978), of Rotherfield, Sussex, and his wife the former Rosalie Muriel Birch; and married firstly, July, 1960, Anne Black Weir (who died 1975); and married 2ndly, 25 March, 1988, the Lady Sarah Margaret Fitzalan Howard, who died 14 June, 2015, aged 73, who was the third of the four daughters of the 16th Duke of Norfolk, KG, GCVO, GBE, PC (1908-75), hereditary Earl Marshal and Premier Duke in England (Peerage of England, cr 1483), by his wife the former Lavinia Mary Strutt, LG, CBE (1916-1995), scion of the Barons Belper.

Lady Sarah Clutton was heir pres to the Lordship of Herries of Terregles (Peerage of Scotland, cr 1490), held by her elder sister, Lady Mary Mumford, DCVO.

Nigel Clutton leaves issue from his first marriage, three daughters, Susan (born 1964), Katherine (born 1965), and Harriet (born 1970).

-=-

Ogilvy-Wedderburn/Vos engagement

 The engagement was announced 26 June, 2026, between Geordie Richard Andrew Ogilvy-Wedderburn (born 20 April, 1987), younger twin son of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Andrew John Alexander Ogilvy-Wedderburn, 7th Baronet (1952-2025), of Alyth, Perthshire, and his wife the former Gillian Meade Adderley (Gillian, Lady Ogilvy-Wedderburn, of Edinburgh); and Philippa Alexis Vos (born 1997), daughter of Richard Grahame Vos (born 1961), of South Molton Devon, and Mrs Katrina P. Agnew (born 1962), of Sibford Gower, Oxfordshire. 

Geordie Ogilvy-Wedderburn is the yr twin brother of Sir Peter Ogilvy-Wedderburn, 8th Baronet.

Sir John Stewart-Clark, 3rd Baronet 1929-2026

Sir John Stewart-Clark, 3rd Baronet, died 22 June, 2026. He was 96.

The baronet, always known as Jack, was a businessman and Conservative and Unionist Party politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament from 1979 to 1999, including as its Vice-President from 1992 to 1997. 

He was born 17 September 1929, son of Sir Stewart Stewart-Clark, 2nd Baronet (1904-1971),  and his wife the former Jane Pamela Clarke (who died in 1993); and succeeded to the baronetcy, 1 December, 1971.

He married 16 July 1958, Jonkvrouwe Lydia Frederika Loudon (1936-2025) daughter of Jonkheer James Willem Loudon (1904-1973), by whom he had a son, Alexander, and three daughters, Daphne, Nadia, and Zarina.

In 1948 Stewart-Clark was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards, serving in North Africa during his national service. In 1958 he was appointed to the Royal Company of Archers, the monarch's bodyguard in Scotland.

Sir Jack stood as a Unionist candidate for Aberdeen North in the 1959 election, coming second behind Hector Hughes. In Britain's first direct elections to the European Parliament, in 1979, Stewart-Clark was elected as an Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Sussex East, holding the seat until it was abolished in 1994. He continued to sit as an MEP for the East Sussex and Kent South constituency until 1999. In the European Parliament he represented the Conservative and Unionist Party, which was aligned with the European Democrat Group until 1992, after which he sat with the Group of the European People's Party. Although sitting for an English constituency, he also acted as a representative of the Scottish Conservatives, who had no MEPs. He was a Vice-President of the European Parliament from 1992 to 1997. He took part in several parliamentary delegations and chaired a number of initiatives, with a particular interest in the prevention of drug abuse, and subsequently became a trustee of the substance abuse group Mentor Foundation.

In 1995 Stewart-Clark inherited Dundas Castle from his mother and began a programme of restoration. The castle, built in 1818 adjacent to a 15th-century tower house, had been bought by his great-grandfather, the Paisley thread manufacturer Stewart Clark, in 1899. Stewart-Clark lived in one wing, while the rest of the house was rented out for weddings and other events.

He is succeeded in the baronetcy by his only son, Alexander (born 21 November, 1960).

-=-

Clemency Mary Katherine Simpson (nee Banon) 1956-2026

 Clemency Katherine Mary Simpson (nee Banon), died in Australia, 16 June, 2026, aged 69.

She was born 24 November, 1956, the third daughter of Christopher Valerio Edward Paul Banon, and his wife Katherine Mary Margaret Frances Josephine ffrench (1917-), scion of the Barons ffrench; and married in 1981, John Robert Simpson, by whom she had a son, Robert (born 24 Nov, 1990).

-=-

Charlotte Elisabeth Grace Chappel (born 2026)

 Cecily Victoria Clarissa Chappel (nee Chambers), wife of William Peter Arthur Hedley Chappel (born Aug. 1981), gave birth to a daughter, Charlotte Elisabeth Grace, 15 June, 2026, a sister for Arthur Frederick D. Chappel, and Leopold Hedley L. Chappel.

William Chappel is a son of Peter F. Chappel (born 1952), and his wife the former Amanda Jane E. Plowden-Wardlaw (born 1954), descended from the Plowden landed gentry family and the Barons Rayleigh.

The 2nd Baron Rayleigh (1796-1873) = Clara Vicars

I

Hon Hedley Vicars Strutt (1864-1891) = Elizabeth Knight

I

Hilda Strutt (1886-1982) = Francis Deverell (1881-1941)

I

Diana Deverell (1916-2016) = Roger Peter Plowden-Wardlaw (1915-2011)

I

Amanda Plowden-Wardlaw (b 1954) = Peter  Chappel (b 1952)

I

William Chappel (b 1987) = Cecily Chambers

I

Charlotte Chappel (b 2026)

-=-