The Baron Blair of Broughton, QPM 1953-2025

Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Blair, who was in charge of the force during the July 7 bombings, died 9 July, 2025, aged 72.

Ian Blair, who ran the force from 2005 to 2008, took a seat as a crossbench peer in 2010 when he became Lord Blair of Boughton. He had earlier been knighted in 1999.

His death was confirmed by Christ Church Oxford, where he was an honorary student.

Ian Warwick Blair was born 19 March, 1953. son of Francis James Blair (1906-1989), and his wife the former Sheila Kathleen Law (1917-1995). 

In a statement on Friday, Christ Church Oxford said: "The Christ Church community would like to extend its condolences to the family of Ian Blair, the Lord Blair of Boughton QPM, who has died at the age of 72.

Lord Blair was chief constable of Surrey Police for two years before becoming deputy commissioner of the Met in 2000, taking over the top job five years later.

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said: "Lord Ian Blair dedicated over 30 years to public service as a police officer - rising through the ranks from a graduate recruit to becoming Commissioner of the Met.

He was a police officer from 1974-2008, serving as Chief Constable of Surrey Police from 1998-2000 and Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 2005-08. He was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in 1999, knighted in 2003, and created a life peer as Baron Blair of Boughton, of Boughton in the County of Cheshire, on 20 July 2010.

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Macnab/Cameron marriage

The marriage took place 7 June, 2025, between Charles Alexander Macnab (born 5 September, 1996), scion of the Clan Macnab of Macnab, son of Ian Macnab (born 4 May, 1951), and his wife the former Hon Jane Maureen Allan (born 1952), & Helen C. Cameron, daughter of Mr Richard K. Cameron and Mrs Morag S. Cameron.

Charles Macnab is a grandson maternally of the life peer the Baron Allan of Kilmahew, DSO, OBE (1914-1979).

John Egerton Grey, CB 1929-2025

John Egerton Grey, CB, who died 24 June, 2025, aged 96, was a scion of the Earls Grey.

He was born 8 February, 1929, son of John Grey (1899-1979), and his wife the former Nancy Augusta Nickalls (who died 1984).

He married 7 January, 1961, his kinswoman, Patricia Grey Hanna, daughter of Colonel Walter Francis Hanna, MC (who died 1963), and his wife the former Kathleen Ethel Madeline Grey (1897-1976), by whom he had issue, two adopted sons, George and Thomas.

John Egerton Grey was called to the Bar and the Inner Temple, 1954; practiced at the Chancery Bar 1954-59; Clerk in Parliament Office House of Lords 1959-88; was Clark Assistant and Clerk of Public Bills, House of Lords 1974-88; was appointed CB in 1980. 

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Camilla, Lady Mackeson 1947-2025

 Camilla, Lady Mackeson, who died 29 June, 2025, aged 78, was a scion of the Keith landed family, and former wife of baronet Sir Rupert Mackeson.

She was born Camilla Margaret Keith, 7 March, 1947, twin with her brother Alastair, daughter of merchant banker Kenneth Keith, later a life peer as Baron Keith of Castleacre (1916-2004), and his wife the former Lady Ariel Olivia Winifred Baird (1916-2003), daughter of the 1st Viscount Stonehaven (1874-1941), and his wife the Countess of Kintore (1874-1974), a peeress in her own right.

She married 1stly, 22 July, 1968, Sir Rupert Henry Mackeson, 2nd Baronet (born 16 Nov, 1941), son of Brig Sir Harry Mackeson, 1st Baronet (1905-1964), and his wife the former Alethea Cecil Chetwynd-Talbot (1913-79), scion of the Earls of Shrewsbury.

Her marriage to Sir Rupert, old-Harrovian, Guards Officer and Steeplechase rider, ended in a much publicised and acrimonious divorce in 1972. In court in January 1972 the baronet promised a High Court Judge that he would not molest his estranged wife, Lady Mackeson, 24, daughter of merchant banker, Sir Kenneth Keith. The judge also ordered that Lady Mackeson's divorce petition should be brought forward by two months and heard that day.

She later married Roberto Villambrosa but retained her style as the former wife of a baronet.

Lady Mackeson was childless, but leaves step-children Guadalupe and Macarena.

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Dawnay/Sullivan engagement

 The engagement was announced 9 July, 2025, between Oliver Payan Dawnay (born 28 September, 1996), scion of the Viscounts Downe, younger son of Ivo Nicholas Payan Dawnay (born 9 December, 1952), and Ms Rachel Johnson (born 1965), of Notting Hill, London, descended from the Royal House of Hanover, & Lily A. Sullivan daughter of the late Mr Richard Sullivan and Mrs Christine Sullivan of Esher, Surrey.

Oliver Dawnay, descended from the 7th Viscount Downe, is a nephew of the Rt Hon Boris Johnson, PC, Prime Minister & First Lord of the Treasury 2019-2022, &c.

Oliver is a direct descendant of the House of Hanover:-

George II, King of Gt Britain & Ireland > Frederick, Prince of Wales > Princess Augusta of Gt Britain & Ireland > Princess Auguste Caroline Friederike Luise of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel > Prince Paul Heinrich Karl Friedrich August of Württemberg > Karolina von Rottenburg > Hubert Freiherr von Pfeffel > Marie Luise Freiin von Pfeffel > Irene Williams > Stanley Johnson  > Rachel Johnson > Oliver Dawnay

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Cook/Bevan engagement

 The engagement was announced  9 July, 2025, between Milo Captain Cook (born 23 Aug, 1997), second son of Nicholas John Mervyn Cook (born 20 March, 1964), descended from the Hoare landed gentry family, of Shepherd's Bush, London, & his wife the former Fiona Venables (born 1963), and Georgina Daisy Bevan (born 18 May, 1997), daughter of Christopher George Bevan (born 1967), of Haughley, Suffolk, and his late wife the former Charlotte Jane Wills (1966-2014). 

Charlotte Wills married 1stly, 1987 (div), Ewan D. Wauchope, a descendant of the Boothby baronets, son of George Duncan Wauchope (1924-2001), and his wife the former Margaret Naomi Latimer Willson (1925-2020). Charlotte married 2ndly, 1994, Christopher George Bevan (above).

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Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Harman (died 2025)

 Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Harman, late the 14th/20th King's Hussars, died 30 June, 2025, aged 86.

He was a son of C. Lancelot Harman, of Evenley, Brackley, Northamptonshire, and married 25 January, 1964, Mary Elizabeth Hotham (born 1 April, 1940), scion of the Barons Hotham, second daughter of Maj the Hon Peter Hotham (1904-1991), and his wife the former Margaret Williams-Wynn (1911-2003), scion of the Williams-Wynn baronets. His wife is a niece of the 7th Baron Hotham (1899-1967).

He leaves issue, a son, Andrew, and a daughter, Nicola.

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Corinna, Baroness Hamilton of Dalzell (died 2025)

 (Ann Anastasia) Corinna Helena, Baroness Hamilton of Dalzell, widow of the 4th Baron, died 7 July, 2025.

Known as 'Coucou', she was a daughter of Sir Pierson Dixon, GCMG, CB (1904-1965), the diplomat and writer, by his wife the former Alexandra Ismene Atchley (1896-1987); and married 29 March, 1967, the then Hon James Leslie Hamilton (born 11 February, 1938), son and heir of the 3rd Baron Hamilton of Dalzell, GCVO, MC (1911-90), by his wife, the former Rosemary Olive Coke (d. 8 Oct, 1993), scion of the Earls of Leicester.

Her husband, who succeeded his father as 4th Baron Hamilton of Dalzell, 31 June, 1990, was a member of the Stock Exchange, 1967-80; Director, Rowton Hotels, plc 1978-84; Chairman, Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for the Disabled, from 1989; Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Surrey from 1993, &c. He died 28 September, 2006.

 Lady Hamilton of Dalzell leaves issue, four sons (including twins). Her eldest son, Gavin, is the 5th Baron (born 8 Oct, 1968),

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The Baron Tebbit, CH, PC 1931-2025

The Baron Tebbit, CH, PC,  who died 7 July, 2025, aged 94, served as a cabinet minister in Margaret Thatcher's government throughout the 1980s. He worked as the chairman of the Conservative Party and led departments including trade and industry and employment.

Norman Beresford Tebbit was born 29 March, 1931, the second son of Leonard Albert Tebbit (1894-1977), of Enfield, and his wife, the former Edith Stagg (1901-1984).

He was educated at Edmonton County Grammar School and embarked on a career in journalism, 1947; served in the RAF, was commissioned and served as a pilot, 1949-51; Reserve service Royal Auxiliary Air Force, No. 604 City of Middlesex Squadron 1952-55; entered and left publishing and advertising, 1951-53; Civil Airline Pilot 1953-70; a member of the Conservative party from 1946. Conservative MP for Epping, 1970-74, Conservative MP for Chingford 1974-1992, PPS to the Secretary of State, Dept of Employment, 1972-73; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Dept of Trade 1979-1981; Minister of State Dept of Industry 1981; Secretary of State for Employment 1981-83; Secretary of State for Trade & Industry 1983-85; Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1985-87; Chairman of the Conservative Party 1985-87; was Chairman of the Conservative MPs Aviation Committee. 

In retirement he was a director of Sears Holdings PLC 1987-99, Director, British Telecommunications plc 1987-96, Director of BET 1987-96; and director of the Spectator (1828) Ltd from 1989; a Director of J.C. Bamford Excavations 1987-91; Co-presenter, Target, Sky TV 1989-1998; he wrote a column in The Sun newspaper, 1995-97; The Mail on Sunday 1997-2001, &c.

Norman Tebbit married in 1956, Margaret Elizabeth Daines, daughter of Stanley Daines, of Chatteris, Isle of Ely, by whom he had two sons, the Hon John Beresford Tebbit (born 1958), and the Hon William Mark Tebbit (born 1965), and one daughter, the Hon Alison Mary (born 1960). 

The Tebbits were both seriously injured in the IRA bombing of the Grand Hotel, Brighton, 12 Oct, 1984. Margaret Tebbit was in a wheel chair for the rest of her life. Lady Tebbit died 19 December, 2020, aged 84.

Tebbit was sworn of the Privy Council in 1981, and appointed a Companion of Honour in 1987. In 1992 after leaving the Commons he was raised to the peerage for life as Baron Tebbit, of Chingford in the London Borough of Waltham Forest.

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Mary Violet Sweet (née Trotman-Dickenson) 1928-2025

Mary Violet Sweet, who died 1 July, 2025, aged 97, was a scion of the Trotman-Dickenson landed gentry family.

She was born in 1928 a daughter of Capt Edward Newton Trotman-Dickenson, MC (1895-1977), head of that landed family, by his wife the former Violet Murray Nicoll (1897-1989); and married 1961, Canon John Philip McMurdo Sweet (1927-2009), by whom she had issue, one son, Richard John McMurdo Sweet, and two daughters, Alison and Rosemary.

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Jennifer Barbara Thornton (née Stephenson) 1931-2025

 Jennifer Barbara Thornton (née Stephenson), died 4 July, 2025, aged 93. She was a scion of the Stephenson baronets.

She was born 8 November, 1931, daughter of Percival John Parker Stephenson (1900-1973), and his wife the former Pamela Benton Jones (1908-1997), daughter of Sir Walter Benton Jones, 2nd Baronet (1880-1967); and was a granddaughter paternally of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Kenyon Stephenson, 1st Baronet (1865-1947); and married 25 October, 1958, John Henry Thornton (born 1927), son of the Rev John Gordon Thornton (1884-1969), and his wife the former Judith Birkbeck (1887-1960), scion of that landed gentry family, by whom she had issue, two sons, Edward (born 25 May, 1963), and Robert (born 18 March, 1968), and a daughter, Katherine (born 27 April, 1961).

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Mary Eveleen, Lady Angus Montagu 1937-2025

 Mary Eveleen, Lady Angus Montagu, who died in Australia, 1 July, 2025, was the first of the four wives of the late 12th Duke of Manchester, and mother of the current Duke.

She was born Mary Eveleen McClure, 10 December, 1937, daughter of Walter Gillespie McClure (1902-1969), of Geelong, Australia, and his wife the former Beatrix Eveleen Stinton (1911-1981); and married 22 Nov, 1961 (div. 1970), the then Lord Angus Charles Drogo Montagu (born 9 October, 1938), second son of the 10th Duke of Manchester, OBE (1902-1977), and his first wife the former Nell Vere Stead (who died 2 Sept, 1966).

Her former husband, Lord Angus Montagu, succeeded his elder brother, 3 June, 1985, as 12th Duke of Manchester (Great Britain, let. pat. 28 Apr 1719); Earl of Manchester (England, let. pat. 5 Feb 1626); Viscount Mandeville (England, let. pat. 19 Dec 1620); Baron Montagu of Kimbolton, of Kimbolton in the County of Huntingdon (England, let. pat. 19 Dec 1620). He died 25 July, 2002.

Lady Angus Montagu leaves issue, Alexander, 13th Duke of Manchester (born 11 Dec, 1962), Lord Kimble Montagu (born 1964), and was predeceased by a daughter, Lady Emma Montagu (1965-2014).

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Ethel Mary Eyre (nee Drage) 1931-2025

Ethel Mary Eyre, died 25 June, 2025, aged 93.

She was a former senior soloist ballet dancer with the Royal Ballet who was romantically linked in the 1950s with the the then Lord Carnegie (later 3rd Duke of Fife), a cousin Queen Elizabeth II.

It was rumoured, but never confirmed, that Queen Elizabeth refused to consent to the betrothal of her cousin to the ballerina on the grounds that Mary was a Roman Catholic. Lord Carnegie would have lost his position, albeit a distant one, in the order of succession to the throne.

She was born Ethel Mary Drage in 1931, a daughter of Commander Charles Hardinge Drage, RN (1897-1983), and his wife the former Enid Margaret Lomer (1902-2004).

She married 1stly, 8 April, 1958, Roderick Andrew Joseph Fraser (1927-1964), scion of the Lords Lovat, son of Major the Hon Alastair Thomas Joseph Fraser (1877-1949), and his wife the former Lady Sibyl Grimston (1887-1968), scion of the Earls of Verulam.

Her first husband died 3 Aug, 1964, aged 37. She married 2ndly, 7 July, 1969, Edward Eyre (born 30 June, 1929), son of Edward Joseph Eyre (who died in 1962), and his wife the Hon Dorothy Elizabeth Anne Pelline Lyon Dalberg-Acton (1906-1998), daughter of the 2nd Baron Acton (1870-1924).

Mary Eyre is survived by her second husband and by three sons and a daughter from her first marriage, and by a son and three daughters from her second marriage.

The funeral is to take place in the Wardour Chapel, at Tisbury, Wiltshire, 8 August, 2025.

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Clementine Betty Owen (born 2025)

 Fleur Lucy Owen (born 1989, nee Cazalet), wife of John W. Owen, gave birth to a daughter, Clementine Betty, 30 June, 2025, a sister for William John (Billy), who was born 17 July, 2023.

John Owen is the youngest son of Mr & Mrs John Owen, of Acton Pigott, Shropshire.

Fleur Owen is a daughter of Mr & Mrs Julian Cazalet, of Holland Park, London.

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Kaia Moon Keswick (born 2025)

 Poppy Delevingne, the socialite and fashion model, partner of Jardine Matheson heir Archie Keswick, gave birth to a daughter, Kaia Moon, on 20 May, 2025.

Archibald David Keswick (born 1980), scion of that landed gentry family, is the second son of Simon Lindley Keswick, FRSA (born 20 May, 1942), and his wife the former Emma Bridget Chetwode (born 17 Oct, 1950), scion of the Barons Chetwode.

Archie was previously married to Alice Rugge-Price (born 22 May, 1985), scion of the Rugge-Price baronets, by whom he has two daughters, Coco and Grace.

Poppy Angela Delevingne (born 1986), is the second daughter of Charles Hamar Delevingne (born 25 June, 1949), descended from the Viscounts Greenwood, and his wife the former Pandora Anne Stevens (born 28 June, 1959), descended from the Sheffield baronets.

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Sir (James) Andrew Watson, 5th Baronet 1937-2025

Sir (James) Andrew Watson, 5th Baronet, died 21 June, 2025, aged 87. 

Sir Andrew held the distinction of being the longest serving Baronet at the time of his death, having succeeded to the baronetcy on 10 Jan 1941, and held the title for 84 years and 162 days.  

He was born 30 December, 1937, son of Sir Aubrey Thomas Watson, 4th Baronet (1911-1941), who was killed in action, 10 Jan, 1941, and his wife the former Ella Marguerite Farrar (1911-1996), daughter of Sir George Herbert Farrar, DSO, 1st and last Baronet (1859-1915).

Andrew Watson, educated at Eton; and served as a Lieutenant in the Life Guards; and was Called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1966. He was appointed a Recorder in 1989.

His home was at Talton House, Newbold-on-Stour, Warwickshire. He married 12 January, 1965, Christabel Mary Carlisle (born 1 March, 1939), scion of that landed gentry family, the elder daughter of Major Kenneth Ralph Malcolm Peter Carlisle (1908-1983), head of that family, by his wife the Hon Elizabeth Mary McLaren (1911-1991), daughter of the 2nd Baron Aberconway (1879-1953).

Sir Andrew is survived by Lady Watson and had issue, two sons, Roland and Alexander, and a daughter, Olivia.

The baronetcy, created in 1866,  now passes to the elder son, Roland Victor Watson (born 4 March, 1966).

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Digby Huw Richmond Jenkins (born 2025)

Harriett E. Jenkins (nee Baker Baker), wife of Edward J.R. Jenkins, gave birth to a son, Digby Huw Richmond, 15 May, 2025, a brother for Ozzie.

Edward Jenkins is the son of Lt-Col Nicholas Jenkins, of Shrewsbury, and Mrs Beatrice Jenkins, of Nanyuki, Kenya.

Harriett Jenkins, is a scion of that landed family, of Sedbury Hall, North Yorkshire, only daughter of William George Baker Baker (b 5 Jan, 1955), of Richmond, North Yorkshire, and Mrs Sarah Baker Baker, of Ramsbury, Wiltshire.

The infant is descended from Sir George Baker, Recorder of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, one of the loyal defenders of that town for King Charles I in the English Civil War.

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Lord Elcho to marry Georgina Thomas

The engagement was announced 5 July, 2025, between Francis Richard Charteris, styled Lord Elcho (born 15 September, 1984), son and heir of the 13th Earl of Wemyss & (9th Earl of ) March (born 22 June, 1948), of Stanway, Gloucestershire, by his first wife the former Hon Catherine Ingrid Guinness (born 1 June, 1952 - now the Hon Mrs Hesketh, of Bayswater, London), scion of the Barons Moyne, & Georgina Charlotte E. Thomas (born 1992), younger daughter of Nigel M. Thomas, of Bromham, Wiltshire, and his wife the former Louisa V. Swithinbank (born 1961).

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Mount/Younger marriage

The marriage took place 14 June, 2025, at Santa Maria, Mallorca, between Benjamin John David Mount (born 1977), son of Jonathan S.D. Mount (born 1949), of Folkestone, Kent, and his former wife Mrs Jacqueline S.J. McLean (nee Jamieson, born 1951), of La Rochelle, France, & Arabella Emily Younger (born 1987), scion of the Viscounts Younger of Leckie, eldest daughter of the Hon Charles Gerald Alexander Younger (born 4 October, 1959), of Gifford, East Lothian, and his wife the former Sally Elizabeth Fergusson.

Arabella is a granddaughter of the late 4th Viscount Younger of Leckie, KCVO, PC (1931-2003).

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