General Colin Powell: his aristocratic ancestry revealed

 General Colin Luther Powell, who died 18 October, 2021, aged 84, served as 65th US Secretary of State in the presidency of George W. Bush. The Gulf War commander who once patrolled the old Cold War border of East Germany with Elvis Presley, was descended from the Coote baronets, and could claim a kinship with Diana, Princess of Wales.

Colin Powell [born 5 April 1937], was descended from General Sir Eyre Coote, Governor of Jamaica 1806-1808, who had children by a black slave girl.

Both General Powell and Diana, Princess of Wales were descended from Sir Charles Coote, of Castle Cuffe, Queen's County, Ireland, created a baronet by King James I in 1621. Sir Charles was killed in a skirmish in 1642.

Powell was a fourth couisn, albeit several times removed, of the late Diana. Tenuous? Maybe. But if Sir Charles Coote had never lived then neither would Powell or the late princess.

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James Tress Barry 1967-2021

 James Tress Barry, who died 10 October, 2021, aged 54, was a scion of the Barry baronets.

He was born 8 June, 1967, elder son of Richard John Barry [born 14 November, 1938], and his wife the former Jillian Frances Novis [born circa 1945]; and married 1stly 1998, Lisa, daughter of Denis Chapman, of Scalby, North Yorkshire, by whom he had a son and a daughter; married 2ndly, 2003, Lisa T. Helme.

A service of Thanksgiving takes place at St Mary's, Fairford, Gloucestershire, 18 Nov, 2021.

Jacob, 6th Earl of Radnor [1868-1930] > Lady Margaret Pleydell-Bouverie [1903-2002] > Richard Barry [b 1938] > James Barry [1967-2021]

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Guinevere Else Williamson [née Spencer] 1920-2021

Guinevere Else Williamson, who died 13 October, 2021, aged 100, was a scion of the Barons Churchill [cadets of the Duke of Marlborough].

Guinevere Else Spencer was born 6 November, 1920, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Almeric Spencer , OBE [1892-1984], and his wife the former Elsie Winifred Macan [1889-1969]; and was a great-great granddaughter of the 1st Baron Churchill [1779-1845].

She married 6 October, 1945 [div 1975], Major Charles Arthur Wellesley Williamson, MC [1914-1997], son of the Rev Charles Arthur Williamson, by whom she had four sons, Richard, Michael, Francis and Patrick, and a daughter, Sarah.

George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough [d 1817] > Francis Spencer, 1st Baron Churchill [1779-1845] > Sir Augustus Spencer [1807-93] > Augustus Spencer [1851-1912] > Edward Spencer [1892-1984] > Guinevere Spencer [1920-2021]

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Sinclair/Watson engagement

 The engagement was announced 16 October, 2021, between Henry William A. Sinclair [born 1994], son of Matthew J. Sinclair, of Northamptonshire, and his wife the former Amanda Evans, & Tara Cadogan Watson [born 1993], scion of the Barons Manton, daughter of the Hon Thomas Philip Watson [born 7 May, 1958], of North Yorkhire, and his 1st wife the former Venetia Margaret Cadogan Spicer [who died 22 Aug 2010].

Tara Watson is a granddaughter of the 3rd Baron Manton [1924-2003].

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Saoirse Cara Waldegrave [born 2021]

The Hon Harriet Horatia Waldegrave, scion of the Earls Waldegrave, and her husband David Ring have had a daughter, Saoirse Cara, born 29 September, 2021.

Harriet Waldegrave (born 1988), is a daughter of the Baron Waldegrave of North Hill, PC (life peer - born 15 Aug 1946), of Chewton Mendip, Somerset, by his wife the former Caroline Linda Margaret Burrows (born 14 Aug 1952). Her father, Lord Waldegrave of North Hill, as William Waldegrave MP, was a Cabinet minister in the Thatcher and Major administrations between 1990 and 1997.

Harriet Waldegrave is a granddaughter of the 12th Earl Waldegrave, KG, GCVO (1905-95).

David W.R. Ring is a son of Mr and Mrs Dave Ring, of Dublin.

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Henry Alexander van Straubenzee [born 2021]

 _. Daisy Philippa van Straubenzee [nee Jenks, born 1991], wife of Charles Anthony van Straubenzee [born 1988], scion of that landed gentry family, gave birth to a son, Henry Alexander, 10 October, 2021, a brother for Clover Kitty, who was born 26 February, 2020.

Charlie van Straubenzee is a son of Alexander Henry van Straubenzee [born 1951], by his wife the former Claire Sonia Fenwick [born 1954], scion of that landed gentry family, and a descendant of the 6th Duke of Manchester [1799-1855].

Daisy van Straubenzee is a daughter of Philip Richard Jenks [born 1963], by his wife the former Alexandra Ulrike Wilson-Nicol [born 1963], daughter of Alexander James Wilson-Nicol [born 1933], by his wife the former Christiane F. von Canstein.

The infant is named Henry in honour of father Charlie's later brother, Henry, who died tragically in December, 2002, aged 18.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended the wedding of Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks in 2018.

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Sir Gerrard Charles Peat, KCVO 1920-2021

 Sir Gerrard Peat, KCVO, who has died aged 101, was a partner in KPMG Peat Marwick (formerly Peat Marwick Mitchell), & Co., Chartered accountants, 1956-87, Auditor to the Queen's Privy Purse, 1980-88 [Assistant Auditor, 1969-80].

Gerrard Charles Peat was born 14 June, 1920, son of Charles Urie Peat, MC, MP [1892-1979], of Wycliffe Hall, and the former Ruth Pulley, and was educated at Sedbergh. He was a grandson of Sir William Barclay Peat, CVO [1852-1936], who was descended from the Barclays banking dynasty.

Career: FCA [1961], served in WW2 in the RAF and ATA [pilot] 1940-45; and Underwriting Member of Lloyd's from 1973; Member of the Corporation of the City of London, 1973-78, &c.

Gerrard Peat was appointed KCVO in 1988.

He married in 1949, Margaret Josephine Collingwood, by whom he had issue, one son, Sir Michael Peat, GCVO [born 16 Nov, 1949], sometime Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to HM The Queen, and principal private secretary to HRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

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James Stephen [Jim] Woodhouse 1933-2021

 James Stephen Woodhouse, who died 11 September, 2021, aged 88, was headmaster of Rugby School, who at 34 was the youngest to hold the post since Thomas Arnold.

He was born 21 May, 1933, son of the Rt Rev James Walker Woodhouse, Bishop of Thetford [1884-1955] and his wife the former Kathleen Mry Harnett [1896-1958], and married in 1957, Sarah Maud Blount [born 1935], daughter of Maj Hubert Blount, MC [1910-79], of Cley Old Hall, Holt, Norfolk, and his wife the former Marion Emily Barclay [1906-90], scion of the Barclays of Higham, landed gentry, by whom he had issue, three sons, John, Michael and William, and a daughter, Hannah.

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Wallace/Ellis engagement

 The engagement was announced 15 October, 2021, between Alexander Ian Agnew Wallace [born 1992], eldest son of [John] Benjamin Agnew Wallace [born 24 May, 1958], of Congham, Norfolk, and his wife the former Katherine Victoria Harriet Baillie [born 5 November, 1962], and Rachael Sophie L. Ellis [born 1991], daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Alan Ellis, of Penton Mewsey, Hampshire, and his wife the former Emma L. Pilkington.

Alexander Wallace descends paternally from the Haworth-Booth landed gentry family, the Barons Bagot and the Earls of Jersey, and descends maternally from the Barons Burton.

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Thomas Crosbie Dawson 1956-2021

 Thomas Crosbie Dawson, who died 8 October, 2021, aged 65, was a scion of the Dawson landed gentry family.

He was born 20 September, 1956, son of Major Robert Clarkson Crosbie Dawson [1916-96], and his wife the former Gillian Sutton [1921-87], scion of the Sutton baronets, and married in 1984, the Hon Katherine Jane Joicey [born 20 Apr, 1959], daughter of the 4th Baron Joicey [1925-1993], and his wife the former Elisabeth Marion Leslie-Melville [1928-2003], scion of the Earls of Leven & Melville, by whom he had issue, a son Robert [born 1992], and two daughters, Lucy [born 1987], and Helen [born 1989].

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Barnes/Bence-Trower engagement

 The engagement was announced 14 October, 2021, between Joshua Edward Vignoles Barnes [born 1992], elder son of Jeremy Edward Barnes, of Bristol, and his wife the former Camilla Imogen Vignoles, and Olivia Rose Bence-Trower [born 21 January, 1992], scion of that landed family, daughter of Nicholas Alexander Bence-Trower, of London, and his wife the former Nicola Sophie Bell.

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Lt-Col Henry George Dormer 1924-2021

 Lieutenant-Colonel Henry George Dormer, late the Royal Artillery, died 9 October, 2021. He was 97.

He was born in 1924, a son of Henry James Dormer [1890-1967], of Sudbury, Suffolk, and his wife the former Annie Hume [1890-1970]; and married 24 August, 1957, Susan Louise Everard [born 9 November, 1935], daughter of Sir Nugent Henry Everard, 3rd Baronet [1905-84], and his wife the former Frances Audrey Jesson [1905-75], by whom he had issue, two daughters, Sara and Charlotte.

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Hon Victoria Marion Ann Tower [nee Lever] 1945-2021

 The Hon Victoria Marion Ann [known as Plum] Tower, who died 4 October, 2021, aged 76, was an Extra Lady in Waiting to HRH The Princess Royal, and a scion of the extinct Viscounts Leverhulme.

She was born the Hon Victoria Marion Ann Lever, 23 September, 1945, second of the three daughters of the 3rd [and last] Viscount Leverhulme, KG [1915-2000], and his wife the former Margaret Ann Moon [died 1973].

Victoria Lever  inherited a share in the vast estate of her father, which consists of a series of family trusts created from the Lever family's Port Sunlight fortune. The assets at stake are composed of a 10,000-acre estate in the Wirral and a large area of land in Scotland, as well as property in London. 

She married 1stly, 27 September, 1966 [div 1973], John Richard Walter Reginald Carew Pole, [later Sir John Carew Pole, 13th Baronet, born 2 Dec, 1938], son of Sir John Gawen Carew Pole, 12th Bt [1902-93], and his wife the former Cynthia Mary Burns [died 1977]; married 2ndly, 3 Oct, 1975, [Robert] Gordon Lennox O'Reilly Apsion [1943-2013]; and married 3rdly, in 1990, Brigadier Peter Tower.

She was appointed an Extra Lady in Waiting to HRH The Princess Royal in 1974.

She leaves three children from her second marriage, two sons, Philip and Robert, and a daughter, Victoria.

The funeral takes place at All Saints' Church, Thornton Hough, the Wirral, 1 Nov, 2021.

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Theodore David Richard Skinner [born 2021]

Francesca Katherine Charteris Skinner [born 1987], wife of Miles David R Skinner (born 1986), gave birth to a son, Theodore David Richard, 5 Oct, 2021.

Francesca is a daughter of Richard William Lewis Groves, of Fontmell Parva, Dorset, by his wife the former Helen Mary Keppel Charteris (b 1956), scion of the Earls of Wemyss & March, dau of David Nigel Charteris (1920-2007), by his first wife the former Eupehmia Mary Inglis (1924-69), dau of Major-General Sir (John) Drummond Inglis, KBE, CB, MC (1895-1985), &c.

Miles Skinner is a son of the late David J Skinner by his wife the former Dominique G.R. Bates (b 1959), of Haslemere, Surrey.  

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Baroness Lee of Trafford [died 2021]

 Baroness Lee of Trafford, who died 1 October, 2021, aged 82, was the wife of life peer, the Baron Lee of Trafford [born 21 June, 1942].

She was the former Anne Monique Bakirgian, and married the then John Robert Louis Lee in 1975, son of Basil Lee [1911-83], and the former Miriam Farber [1911-81]. Her husband was Conservative MP for Nelson and Colne 1979-83, and for Pendle 1983-92, and was created a life peer in 2006 after joining the Liberal Democrats.

She is survived by her husband and two daughters, Deborah and Elspeth.

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Hugo Anthony Meynell 1936-2021

 Hugo Anthony Meynell, who died 1 October, 2021, aged 85, was a scion of the Meynells of Langley, born 23 March, 1936, the posthumous son of Capt Godfrey Meynell, VC, MC [1904-1935], and his wife the former Sophia Patricia Lowis [1905-91], and married in 1962, Anne Kirtland, by whom he had issue.

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Ann Watson [née Forbes-Robertson] 1929-2021

 Ann Watson [née Forbes-Robertson], who died 10 August, 2021, aged 92, was a scion of the Forbes-Robertson landed gentry family.

Born in 1929, she was a daughter of Colonel James Forbes-Robertson, VC, DSO, MC [1884-1955], and his wife, the former Hilda Forster [1893-1976], scion of the Forster baronets, daughter of Sir Ralph Collingwood Forster, 1st [and last] Baronet [1850-1930].

She married in 1951, Capt John Douglas Watson, MBE [deceased], son of Lieutenant-Colonel D.P. Watson, DSO, of Weymouth, Co Dorset, by whom she had a son, James [born 1955, deceased], and a daughter, Sally [born 1952].

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Nolan/von Matuschka engagement

 The engagement was announced 9 October, 2021, between Felix Wei An Nolan [born 1992], younger son of the Hon Michael Alfred Anthony Nolan [born 17 June, 1953], of Brook Green, London, and his wife the former Adeline Mei Choo Oh, and Gräfin Amelie von Matuschka [born 1994], daughter of Karl-Joseph Graf von Matuschka [born 1960], of Moone, Ireland, and his wife the former Jennifer Clare Young [born 1963].

Felix Nolan is a grandson of the life peer the Baron Nolan [1928-2007], and his wife the former Margaret Noyes [who died 2019], descended from the Mayne landed family, the Welds of Chideock, and the Barons Clifford of Chudleigh.

The 'royal' German ancestry of the bride-to-be:-

Friedrich Karl II Clodwig Konstantin Adolf Fst zu Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst [1846-1924] >Friedrich Karl III Ludwig Philipp Ernst Franz Joseph Fst zu Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst [1908-82]  >Amélie zu Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst [1936-85] >Karl-Joseph von Matuschka [b 1960] >Amelie Grafin von Matuschka [b 1994]

Fursdon/Waite engagement

The engagement was announced 11 October, 2021, between Charles McCreath Fursdon [born 19 Dec, 1986], scion of that landed family, youngest son of [Edward] David Fursdon [born 1952], of Cadbury, Devon, and his wife the former Catriona Margaret McCreath [born 1955], & Laura J. Waite, daughter of Mr & Mrs Peter Waite, of Plaistow, West Sussex.

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Alwyne, Lady Gillett 1931-2021

 Alwyne, Lady Gillett, who died 21 August, 2021, in Zurich, was the second wife, and widow, of Sir Robin Gillett, 2nd Baronet, a former Lord Mayor of London.

She was the former Alwyne Winifred Hay, daughter of James McDonald Hay, and married 1stly, 1954, John Lant. Her second husband, from 1963, was Judge Albert Edward Cox [1916-1992]; and married 3rdly, 8 July, 2000, Sir Robin Danvers Penrose Gillett, 2nd Baronet, GBE [born 9 Nov, 1925], son of Sir Sydney Harold Gillett, 1st Bt [1890-1976], and his wife the former Audrey Isabel Mark-Wardlaw [who d 1962].

Sir Robin was Lord Mayor of London 1976-77, and died 21 Apr, 2009.

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Brooke/Close engagement

 The engagement was announced 9 October, 2021, between George Francis Geoffrey Brooke [born 10 September, 1991], son and heir of Sir Francis George Windham Brooke, 4th Baronet [born 15 October, 1963], of Glenbevan, Croom, County Limerick, and his wife the Hon Lady Brooke [nee the Hon Katharine Elizabeth Hussey, born 1 Feb, 1964], and Emily Anne K. Close [born 1990], the only daughter of Thomas D. Close, of Horsham, West Sussex, and his wife the former Sarah Pool.

George Brooke is a grandson maternally of Lady Susan Hussey, GCVO [nee Waldegrave] [born 1 May, 1939] Woman of the Bedchamber to Her Majesty The Queen.

12th Earl Waldegrave, KG [1905-95] > Lady Susan Waldegrave [b 1939] > Hon Katharine Hussey [b 1964] > George Brooke [b 1991]

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Cohen/Gamon engagement

 The engagement was announced 9 October, 2021, between Rupert Lionel Cohen [born 1986], younger son of Sir Jonathan Lionel Cohen, QC [born 8 May, 1951], of London, and his wife the former Bryony Frances Carfrae, and Emma Florence Gamon [born 1991], younger daughter of Charles W.T. Gamon [born 1956], of Leigh, Kent, and his wife the former Michele S. Arthur.

Lionel Leonard Cohen, Baron Cohen, PC [1888-1973] [Law Lord] > Hon Leonard Cohen [1922-2007] > Sir Jonathan Cohen [b 1951] > Rupert Cohen [b 1986]

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Amelia FitzGerald [born 2021]

 _. Laura Caroline [Flo] FitzGerald [nee Tellwright, born 1987], wife of Edward FitzGerald [born 1988], scion of the Dukes of Leinster, gave birth to a daughter, Amelia, 2October, 2021, at Bury St Edmunds, a sister for Eve, who was born 24 March, 2020.

Edward FitzGerald is heir presumptive to his uncle the 9th Duke of Leinster [born 7 Apr, 1948], and is the only son of the late Capt Lord John FitzGerald (1952-2015), by his wife the former Barbara Zindel.

Flo FitzGerald is the younger dau of Mr (William) Kirkland Tellwright [born 1956], of Shropshire, by his wife the former Hon Caroline Fiona Fitzherbert (b 1956), second daughter of the 14th Baron Stafford (1926-86).

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Tiggy Rose Hanbury [born 2021]

 Victoria [Tori] Hanbury [nee Bigge, born 1989], wife of George Christopher Osgood Hanbury [born 6 Nov, 1987], scion of that landed gentry family, gave birth to a daughter, Tiggy Rose, 30 September, 2021, a sister for Ned, who was born 2 January, 2018, and for Rhoda Willow, to be known as Willow, who was born 18 March, 2020.

George Hanbury is a son of Maj Christopher Osgood Philip Hanbury (b 1944), of Shefford Woodlands, Berkshire, by his wife the former Bridget Anne Birch, & Victoria is a daughter of Peter William Bigge [born 1956], of Whorlton, co Durham, by his wife the former Michele Louise Kitson [born 1960].

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