Lady de Rothschild [nee Schott] 1949-2021, former wife of Sir Evelyn de Rothschild

 _. Victoria Lady de Rothschild, who died 18 January, 2021, aged 71, was the second wife of Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, the financier, merchant banker, and scion of the British branch of the wealthy Rothschild family.

Lady de Rothschild, a renowned socialite, was the former Victoria Lou Schott, daughter of Lewis Schott, and his wife Marcia, and was born in 1949. She was a graduate of the Hewitt School, Bradford Junior College and Trinity College in Hartford, USA, and attended the Columbia University Graduate School of Business. Her father was chairman of the board of Automatic Toll Systems, Inc., New York.

She married in New York, 1 July, 1973, as the second of his three wives, Evelyn Robert Adrian de Rothschild [born 29 Aug, 1931], scion of the Barons Rothschild, son of Anthony Gustav de Rothschild [1887-1961], and his French-born wife the former Yvonne d'Anvers. 

Her husband, who was knighted in 1989, was Chairman of N.M. Rothschild and Sons Ltd, the merchant bank founded in 1804 by his great-great grandfather; and was Chairman of the Economist Newspaper, 1972-89; and Chairman, United Racecourses Ltd, 1977-94. 

Victoria's marriage to Sir Evelyn was dissolved by divorce in 2000.

Lady de Rothschild leaves three children, two sons, Anthony [born 1977], a record producer, and David [born 1978], and a daughter, Jessica [born 1974], sometime model and literary editor of Tatler.

-=-

Michael Charles Lambton 1934-2021

 _. Michael Charles Lambton, who died at Linz, Austria, 10 January, 2021, aged 86, was a scion of the Earls of Durham, and a grandson maternally of the 3rd Viscount Hampden.

He was born 24 November, 1934, son of D'Arcy Lambton [1908-38], and his wife the former Hon Monica Dorothy Brand [1914-2009], and was a grandson maternally of Brigadier-General the 3rd Viscount Hampden [1869-1958], and his wife the Lady Katherine Mary Montagu Douglas Scott [1875-1951], daughter of the 6th Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry [1831-1914].

Michael's paternal grandfather was the Hon Claud Lambton [1865-1945], a son of the 2nd Earl of Durham [1828-79], and his wife Lady Beatrix Hamilton [1935-71], daughter of the 1st Duke of Abercorn [1811-85].

He married in 1969, Nancy [1930-2007], previously wife of Prince Jerzy Sapieha, son of Prince Jan Andrzej Sapieha-Rozanski, and daughter of John Gillespie, by whom he had a son, D'Arcy [born 1970]. He also had a daughter, Monica, from another relationship.

-=-

Elizabeth Anne Minoprio [nee Hopkinson] 1936-2021

 _. [Elizabeth] Anne Minoprio, who died 11 January, 2021, aged 84, was the widow of Michael Minoprio, scion of that landed gentry family.

She was born 7 July, 1936, a scion of the Hopkinson landed family, of Netherton Hall, daughter of Francis Archibald Hopkinson [1904-94], of Dundas Farm, Elmstead, Ashford, Kent, by his wife the former Ursula Joan Jones [1914-76], and was a niece of the 1st Baron Colyton [1902-96]. 

She married firstly, 27 July, 1955 [div 1968] David Charles Watney [born 5 Feb, 1932], late the 12th Royal Lancers, second son of Charles Norman Watney, CIE [1868-1956], and his wife Ada Winifred Crew [died 1953], by whom she had two daughters, [Anne] Louise [b 10 March, 195], and Caroline Teresa [born 22 July, 1958]; married 2ndly, in 1968, as his second wife, Capt. Michael Raymond Minoprio [1927-2015], scion of that landed gentry family, of Haulfryn, 5th son of Frank Charles Minoprio [1870-1951], of Broadlands, Ascot, Berkshire, and his second wife the former Rachel Helen Mann.

-=-

Matheson/Nkhoma engagement

  _. The engagement was announced 19 January, 2021, between Archie James Torquhil Matheson [born 13 March,1987], scion of the Matheson baronets, younger son of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Alexander Fergus Matheson of Matheson, 8th Baronet, LVO, Chief of the Clan Matheson [born 26 Aug, 1954], of Brightwalton, Berkshire, and his wife the former Katharine Davina Mary Oswald [born 19 March, 1959], descended from the Marquesses of Exeter, & Dr Jackline Iga Nkhoma, daughter of Mr Moses Nkhoma and Mrs Barbara Iga Gumede, of Pretoria, South Africa.

The bride to be is a doctor in anaesthesia at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

Archie Matheson is with Czarnikow Consulting East & Southern Africa (CCESA) offering specialist support and advice on agriculture, food and trade in East Africa. He is a grandson of Sir Michael Oswald, GCVO, who was racing manager to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. His great-grandfather, was the British Olympian, the 6th Marquess of Exeter [1905-81].

-=-

Lady Worcester, wife of Sir Robert Worcester, dies aged 87

 _. Lady Worcester, who died 20 December, 2020, aged 87, was the wife of Sir Robert Milton Worcester, KBE, DL, the American-born British pollster who is the founder of MORI (Market & Opinion Research International Ltd.) and a member and contributor to many voluntary organisations.

The former Margaret Smallbone, she married Robert Worcester as his second wife in 1982. Their home was the 13th century Allington Castle, on the River Medway, Kent.

Sir Robert is a well-known figure in British public opinion research and political circles and as a media commentator, especially about voting intentions in British and American elections.

Lady Worcester is survived by Sir Robert, 87, and leaves two sons, Dr Angus Turner and Mr James Möser.

-=-

David Valerian Smiley 1938-2021

 _. Maj. David Valerian Smiley, Royal Horse Guards, who died 11 January, 2021, aged 82, was a scion of the Smiley baronets, and a grandson maternally of the 3rd Earl Cowley.

He was born 1 April, 1938, son of John Claude Smiley [1910-95], and his first wife Lady Cecilia Katherine Wellesley [who died 30 Sept, 1952], daughter of the 3rd Earl Cowley [1866-1919], and his 3rd wife the former Clare Florence Mary Stapleton [died 1949], scion of the Stapleton baronets.

He was a grandson paternally of Maj. Sir John Smiley, 2nd Baronet [1876-1930], and his wife Valerie Champion de Crespigny [died 1978], scion of that landed gentry family.

He married firstly, 7 Sept, 1962 [div 1987] Rose-Ann Greig, daughter of Colonel David Greig, of Borland, Kilmarnock; married 2ndly, in 1988, Mrs Jill Velia Huntington [nee Kershaw], widow of Lionel William [Robin] Huntington, MC, and daughter of Commander John Kershaw, DSO, RN. His second wife died in 2002.

He leaves a son and a daughter from his first marriage, Patrick Valerian Smiley [born 1965], and [Katherine] Cecilia Smiley [born in 1963], and was predeceased by another son, Thomas Edward De Crespigny Smiley [1967-89].

-=-

Georg Wilhelm Gustav von Mallinckrodt, [Hon] KBE 1930-2021

 _. Georg Wilhelm Gustav von Mallinckrodt, KBE [Hon], who died 16 January, 2021, aged 90, was a merchant banker, Chairman of Schroders from 1984 to 1995.

He was born 19 Aug, 1930, son of Arnold Wilhelm Theodore von Mallinckrodt [1901-82] and his wife the former Valentine Huberta Alexandra Else Victoria von Joest. 

He married 31 July, 1958, [Baroness] Charmaine Brenda Schröder, daughter of Helmut William Bruno Schröder, of the banking dynasty, of Dunlossit, Port Askaig, Isle of Ilay, by his wife the former Margaret Eleanor Phyllis Darell, elder daughter of Sir Lionel Edward Hamilton Marmaduke Darell, 6th Baronet, DSO [1876-1954]. Charmaine von Mallinckrodt is a sister of billionaire Bruno Schroder [1933-2019].

Georg von Mallinckrodt leaves two sons, Philip and Edward, and two daughters Claire and Nina. His daughter, Claire Louise, married in 1987, Henry Julian Nicholas Fitzalan Howard [born 7 July, 1954], scion of the Dukes of Norfolk, son of Maj-Gen Lord Michael Fitzalan Howard [1916-2007].

The family, of noble stock, can trace their ancestry to Westphalia in the 13th century.

Georg von Mallinckrodt was appointed Hon KBE in 1997.

-=-

Fiennes Albert Wykeham Charles Cornwallis [born 2021]

 _. Olivia Charlotte Cornwallis [born 1990, nee Trotter], wife of the Hon [Fiennes] Alexander Wykeham Martin Cornwallis [born 25 November, 1987], scion of the Barons Cornwallis, gave birth to a son and heir, Fiennes Albert Wykeham Charles, 12 January, 2021.

The infant is a grandson [and heir but one] of the 4th Baron Cornwallis [born 25 May, 1946], of Stone in Oxney, Kent, and his wife the former Sarah Gray de Neufville Stockwell [born 1949].

Olivia Cornwallis is a daughter of Peter Trotter born 1960], of Aldsworth, Gloucestershire, and Mrs Janet Trotter [nee Buchanan Dunlop, born 1954], of Andoversford, Gloucestershire, scion of the Buchanan Dunlop landed gentry family, descended from the Earls of Strathmore & Kinghorne.

-=-

John Alexander Spens, MVO 1933-2021

 _. John Alexander Spens, MVO, who has died aged 87, was Carrick Pursuivant, 1974-1985, and Albany Herald, 1985-2011. He was a scion of the Spens landed family of Lathallan.

He was a consultant with solicitors Maclay, Murray & Spens, of Glasgow and Edinburgh [Partner 1960-91].

He was born 7 June, 1933, the son of Thomas Patrick Spens, OBE, MC, and his wife the former Nancy Anderson.

He was a director of Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Soc 1963-97 [Chairman 1978-81].

John Spens married 14 Oct, 1961, Finella Jane Gilroy, daughter of Donald Duff Gilroy, by whom he had 2 sons and 1 daughter.

His home was The Old Manse, Gartocharn, Dunbartonshire.

-=-

Benjamin de Rothschild 1963-2021

 _. Benjamin Edmond Maurice de Rothschild died from a heart attack at his home in Pregny, Switzerland, 15 January, 2021. He was 57.

He was a French banker, owner of the Edmond de Rothschild Group since 1997. He was born in France, 30 July, 1963, the son of the Edmond Adolphe (1926-1997) and his wife the former Nadine Lhopitalier (b 18 Apr, 1932). He married 23 January, 1999, Ariane Langner, by whom he had four daughters, Noémie, Alice, Eve, and Olivia. 

In 2000, he created the professional offshore sailing racing team Gitana Team.

Benjamin de Rothschild was a seventh-generation descendant of the dynasty founder Mayer Amschel.He was the great grandson of Edmond James de Rothschild (1845-1934) and Adelheid von Rothschild (1853-1935), the grandson of Maurice de Rothschild (1881-1957) and Noémie Halphen (1888-1968), and the only child of Edmond Adolphe and Nadine (née Lhopitalier) de Rothschild. He was a cousin of Lord Rothschild, OM, GCB, CVO [born 29 April, 1936], the fourth Baron in the UK peerage.

His family wealth ranked 22nd on Challenges 2019 list of French fortunes, 43rd on Bilan 2019 list of Swiss fortunes, and 1349th on Forbes 2019 list of world billionaires.He was considered one of the richest members of the Rothschild family.

-=

Gillian Nadine Ziani de Ferranti [died 2021]

 _. Gillian Nadine Ziani de Ferranti, who has died aged 74, was the third wife and widow of Sebastian Basil Joseph Ziani de Ferranti [1927-2015], of Henbury Hall, Macclesfield. 

The former Mrs Nadine Brown [nee France], she married the scion of the family electronics firm in 2011, and was widowed 4 years later, 15 Oct, 2015.

Mrs de Ferranti leaves two daughters from her previous marriage.

-=-

Buxton/Crawford engagement

 _. The engagement was announced 16 January, 2021, between Charles Robert James Buxton [born 12 December, 1986], scion of the Buxton baronets, younger son of James Anthony Fowell Buxton [born 14 March, 1948], of Galhampton, Somerset, and his wife the former Margaret Elizabeth Russell [born 11 Oct, 1945], scion of the Barons Ampthill, & Alexandra Louise Crawford [born 1987], daughter of Peter Crawford, of Kensington, London, and his wife the former Barbara Blatiak.

John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford [1766-1839]-->Lord George Russell [1790-1846]-->Odo Russell, 1st Baron Ampthill [1829-84]-->Arthur Russell, 2nd Baron Ampthill [1869-1935]-->Admiral Hon Sir Guy Russell [1898-1977]-->Margaret Russell [b 1945]-->Charlie Buxton [b 1986].

-=-