trenchard

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Michael Bonhote Rodney Foster 1940-2025

 Michael Bonhote Rodney Foster, died 10 May, 2025, aged 85.

He was born in 1940, son of Colonel Rodney Charles Foster (1910-1996), and his wife the former Florence Eugenie Bonhote (who died in 1998); and married in 1971, Annabel Mary Buxton (born 23 May, 1948), scion of the Buxton baronets, third daughter of John Edward Buxton (1900-1981), and his wife the former Norah Frances O'Bryen Hoare (1907-1995), scion of the Hoare baronets, by whom he had issue, a son, James (born 1982), and two daughters, Lucy (born 1974), and Harriet (born 1976).

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Tuesday, May 20, 2025

A ducal discovery

 Sharon Burgess-Close, a 66 year-old musician and dancer, living in Geelong, Australia, had the surprise of her life went she appeared on an Australian TV show 'The Secret DNA of Us', a programme that features participants who give DNA samples to discover family relationships. 

One hundred applicants were chosen from the Geelong area to participate and among several people highlighted in the episode was Sharon Burgess-Close, who had grown up never knowing who her father was.

Born in the UK in January, 1959, Sharon learned early on about her mother Linda's colourful life.

In the early 1960s Linda (whose birth name was Dina) was a dancer at the famous Murray's Cabaret, in London's Soho, and is reported to have shared a flat with Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies, who were known for their central role in the Profumo Affair, the political scandal of  1963 centred around John Profumo, MP, Minister without Portfolio, a leading member of the Macmillan government. 

Sharon's mother died in 2024 without ever revealing the identity of Sharon's father. So when she saw the advertisement on social media seeking participants for the SBS show she thought at last she might finally discover the identity of her father. Was he perhaps one of the high society aristocrats, or famous actors who frequented the Murray's Cabaret club?

A hundred Geelong folk gathered together and gave DNA samples and then it was a waiting game while their DNA was analysed. Some eight weeks later, Sharon received a call asking if she could make herself available for two days of filming. So, it was with some trepidation that Sharon met the production team at the Federal Mills to learn what they had discovered. Firstly, producers handed Sharon a photograph and told her 'This is your grandmother.' She was an American heiress, Clothilde Quigley, who came to the UK to make an aristocratic marriage.  While still processing this information, Sharon was handing a newspaper clipping that revealed her father's name, - William James Cavendish-Bentinck, a scion of the now extinct Dukes of Portland. Sadly, this newspaper article also revealed her father had died 4 September,1966, at the age of 42, without any legitimate offspring. If he had lived to survive his father he would have become 10th Duke of Portland.

William Cavendish-Bentinck, the thrice married descendant of the Dukes of Portland, was born 6 July, 1925, the only son of the diplomat Victor Cavendish-Bentinck (1897-1990), Assistant Under Secretary of State, Foreign Office 1944;  Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Poland 1945-47, and his first wife, Clothilde Quigley, from whom he was divorced in 1948. In 1977 Victor's elder brother, Ferdinand, succeeded a cousin as 8th Duke of Portland, and upon the 8th duke's death without a male heir, 13 Sept, 1980, Victor succeeded as 9th (and last) Duke.

Sharon burst into tears, overwhelmed by emotion. In a few short moments she had found her family and lost them all at once. There were more surprises in store as Sharon was told that Queen Elizabeth II's grandmother was related to her father, and her maiden name was also Cavendish-Bentinck, and King George VI and the Queen Mother were also her father's godparents. Burke's Peerage does not show that William was a godson of either King George or Queen Elizabeth, and such details are usually recorded. Victor however was a close friend of his royal cousin, Queen Elizabeth. On Victor's death, 30 July, 1990, the Dukedom of Portland became extinct, but the Earldom of that name passed to a distant kinsman, Henry Bentinck. 

Finding out about her father and his mother and her royal connections (she is a fifth cousin of King Charles III), has given Sharon answers to who she is. She said she always felt like something was missing and she had no identity.

Victor, the .9th Duke was also father of a daughter, Lady Mary Jane Cavendish-Bentinck (born 16 December, 1929, who died 1 March, 2010), who married twice,  and was mother of two sons, Sharon's cousins, William and David Georgiades. Whether she reaches out to meet them or not, Sharon is not sure. She doesn't want to upset anyone, but would love to meet someone who knew her father, who could tell her more about him, what he was really like?

For now, Sharon will simply continue on with life as she knew it, performing with her husband Paul in their two-piece band PASH. The experience has been a positive one for Sharon. There is now closure of sorts. 

See the Geelong episode of The Secret DNA of Us on SBS on demand. The show continues region by region on Thursdays at 7:30pm."

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Clodagh Grotrian 1928-2025

Clodagh Grotrian died 15 May, 2025, aged 97. She was the widow of John Grotrian, scion of the baronets of that name. She was born in 1928, daughter of Major Richard Shaw De Courcy Bennett, of Camberley, Surrey, and married 25 April, 1953, John Stephen Martin Grotrian (1925-2000), by whom she had issue a son, Jeremy (born 1959), and two daughters, Amanda (b 1955), and Emma (b 1963).

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Maria, Lady Musgrave, widow of Sir Richard Musgrave, Bt

 Maria, Lady Musgrave, Greek-born widow of Sir Richard Musgrave, 7th Baronet, has died.

She was the former Maria Cambanis, daughter of Colonel Mario Cambanis, of Athens, and married 5 February, 1958, Capt Sir Richard James Musgrave, 7th Baronet (born 10 February, 1922), son of Sir Christopher Norman Musgrave, 6th Baronet, OBE (1892-1956), & his wife the former Kathleen Chapman (who died 2 May, 1967). Her husband succeeded to the baronetcy, of Tourin, Waterford (cr 1782), 12 May, 1956, and died 2 Dec, 2000.

She was the mother of two sons and four daughters, including Sir Christopher, the 8th Baronet.

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James Alexander Innes 1939-2025

James Alexander Innes, who died 5 April, 2025, aged 86, was a scion of the baronets of the Innes baronets.

He was born 27 February, 1939, fourth son of Lieutenant-Colonel Berowald Alfred Innes (1904-1981), The Black Watch, by his wife the former Betty Ida Sandeman (1906-1997), scion of that landed gentry family; and married 18 Oct, 1969, Frances Leggat (born 1942), daughter of Hugh Leggat, of Pirnie House, Kelso, Roxburghshire, by whom he had issue, a son, Rory (born 1977), and a daughter, Melissa (born 1972).

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Saturday, May 17, 2025

Ramsay/Fresson engagement

The engagement was announced 17 May, 2025, between Ruaridh Shaw-Mackenzie Ramsay (born 29 March, 1996), third son of William Alan Grant Ramsay of Bowland (born April, 1958), of Cambridgeshire, and his first wife the former Rebecca Shaw (born 19 Oct, 1961, now Baroness Fraser of Corriegarth), & Elinor Violet Fresson (born 6 December, 1997), daughter of Michael John Fresson (born Nov 1945), of Hampshire, descended from the Holdich landed gentry family, and his wife the former Serena Louise Franklin (born Sept, 1960).

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Lyra Julia Carrow (born 2025)

 Dorothea Elizabeth Carrow (née Pease, born 1992, scion of the Pease baronets), wife of Hugh David Carrow (born 1991), gave birth to a daughter, Lyra Julia, 13 May, 2025.

Dorothea is the eldest daughter of David Berkeley Pease (born 27 April, 1958), and his wife the former Mariana Steuart Fothringham (born 1966), scion of that landed gentry family, and a descendant of King William IV and Mrs Jordan.

Hugh Carrow is the son of Colonel Richard John Carrow (born 1955), and his wife the former Harriet Annabelle Leeds (born 13 March, 1962), daughter of Sir George Graham Mortimer Leeds, 7th Baronet (1927-1983).

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Rev William Beadon Norman 1926-2025

The Rev William Beadon Norman, who died 10 May, 2025, aged 99, was head of that landed gentry family, of Bromley Common.

The barrister, later clergyman, served in the RAC and the 9th Lancers, was ordained a deacon in 1952, and a priest in 1953; was born 14 February, 1926, the elder son and heir of Brigadier-General Charles Wake Norman, CBE, DL (1891-1974), of West Farleigh Hall, Maidstone, Kent, by his wife the former Nora Beadon (1902-1990); and married 8 October, 1952, Beryl Welch (born 1926), daughter of John George Embleton Welch, of Wolverhampton, and later of Chambersburg, Pa, United States, by his wife the former Elizabeth Cowan, by whom he had three sons, Stephen (b 1954), James (b 1959), and Paul (b 1961, deceased), and four daughters, Henrietta (deceased) and Julia (twins b 1956), Sarah (twin with Paul) & Charity.

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Jaffray/van den Ende engagement

The engagement was announced 17 May, 2025, between Nicholas Gordon Alexander Jaffray (18 Oct, 1982), eldest son and heir of Sir William Otho Jaffray, 5th Baronet (born 1 November, 1951), of Chelsea, London, and of his 1st wife, Cynthia, Lady Jaffray (nee Corrington), of Chelsea, & Pearl Joy Van Den Ende (born circa 1983), only daughter of Anthony Van Den Ende, of Stratford-upon-Avon, and Mrs Jane Hall Wallace.

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Funeral of the Dowager Countess of Strathmore & Kinghorne

 From the Court Circular 16 May 2025:

The King was represented by the Earl of Airlie, KT at a Service of Thanksgiving for the Dowager Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne which took place at St Fergus Kirk, Glamis, Angus, this afternoon.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were represented by the Earl of Dalhousie.

The Princess Royal was represented by Mrs David Bowes-Lyon.

Surely, some mistake? The late Earl of Airlie was a Knight of the Thistle. He died 26 June, 2023. The current Earl, present at Lady Strathmore's funeral, has not received the Thistle, and has not been bestowed with any other order of chivalry. Perhaps to make amends His Majesty might now despatch the Thistle to Lord Airlie? 

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Tenwick/Bromley-Martin engagement

 The engagement was announced 17 May, 2025, between Harry James Tenwick (born 1994), son of Colin J. Tenwick, of Chelsea, and his wife the former Jill Shearer, & Olivia Felicity Bromley-Martin (born 10 July, 1994), scion of that landed gentry family, second daughter of Michael Granville Bromley-Martin, KC (born 1955), of West Wittering, by his wife the former Anna Frances Birley (born 1 March, 1961).

Friday, May 16, 2025

Anthony Frederick Fitzroy Lort-Phillips 1944-2025

Anthony Frederick Fitzroy Lort-Phillips, who died 5 May, 2025, was a scion of that landed gentry family, formerly of Down Grange. He was 80.

He was born 14 October, 1944, the third son of Capt Raymond Lort-Phillips (1903-1980), Scots Guards, and his wife the former Violet Susan May St Aubyn (1909-2009), scion of the Barons St Levan; and was thrice married, firstly, in 1971, Saranne Frances, Baroness Calthorpe (who died 1984), former wife of the 10th Baron Calthorpe (1927-1997), and daughter of James Harold Alexander, of Elton Park, Dublin; and married 2ndly, 1995 (div 1999), Melanie Susan Clara Dargie; married 3rdly, 2002, Marie-Françoise le Vève, Leon le Vève, of Le Mans, France.

From his second marriage he had a daughter, Michaela Susan Alexandra (born 4 June, 1991).

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Crawford/Verney engagement

 The engagement was announced 16 May, 2025, between Andrew G. Crawford, son of Mr & Mrs Victor Crawford, of Macclesfield, Cheshire, & Elizabeth Mary (Ella) Verney (born 30 April, 1985), only daughter of Sir Edmund Ralph Verney, 6th Baronet (born 28 June, 1950), of Middle Claydon, Buckinghamshire, and his wife the former Daphne Primrose Fausset-Farquhar (born 1945).

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Michael John Tankerville Chamberlayne 1945-2025

Michael John Tankerville Chamberlayne, died 11 May, 2025, aged 99. He was a scion of that landed gentry family, born 1945, son of Commander Tankerville Seymour Roca Chamberlayne, RN, and his second wife the former Reine Francesca Gray; & married 1979, Mary L. Scott, by whom he had issue, two sons, Thomas Simon (born 1979), and Harry Alexander (born 1984).

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Andrew William Neilson Gemmill (died 2025)

 Andrew William Neilson Gemmill, died 9 May, 2025. 

He married in 1965, Diana Burton-Chadwick (1938-2024), daughter of Sir Robert Peter Burton-Chadwick, 2nd Baronet (1911-1983), and his 1st wife the former Rosalind Mary Stott (who died in 2009), by whom he had issue, two sons, Tristan (b 1967), and Giles (b 1968), and a daughter, Lucinda (b 1972).

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The Earl of Ancram to marry Giulietta Bateman

The engagement was announced 16 May, 2025, between John Walter Donald Peter (Johnnie) Kerr, styled Earl of Ancram (born 8 August, 1988), eldest son and heir of the 14th Marquess of Lothian (born 7 November, 1957), of Melbourne Hall, Derbyshire, and the Marchioness of Lothian ( nee Marie-Clare Black, 2nd daughter of (Michael) Donald Gordon Black MC, of Cupar, co. Fife), & Giulietta Francesca Cordelia Gale Bateman (born 23 June, 1995), a producer and production manager, the eldest daughter of Philip Christiaan Bateman (born 5 January, 1945), of Cape Town, South Africa, and his wife the former Caroline Gale.

Lord Ancram, whose father succeeded to the family honours 1 Oct 2024, on the demise of his elder brother, is heir to a string of peerages:- Marquess of Lothian (Scotland, let. pat. 23 Jun 1701), Earl of Lothian (Scotland, let. pat. 31 Oct 1631), Earl of Ancram (Scotland, let. pat. 24 Jun 1633), Viscount of Briene (Scotland, let. pat. 23 Jun 1701), Lord Jedburgh (Scotland, let. pat. 2 Feb 1621/22), Lord Newbottle (Scotland, let. pat. 31 Oct 1631), Lord Kerr of Nisbet, Longnewtoun and Dolphinstoun, (Scotland, let. pat. 24 Jun 1633), Lord Ker of Newbottle, Oxnam, Jedburgh, Dolphinstoun and Nisbet (Scotland, let. pat. 23 Jun 1701), Baron Ker, of Kershaugh in the County of Roxburgh (United Kingdom, let. pat. 17 Jul 1821), 

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Thursday, May 15, 2025

Rafe Alexander Robert Wolrige Gordon (born 2025)

 Harriet Sophie A. Wolrige Gordon (nee McMillan, born 1992), wife of Henry Conolly Robert [Harry] Wolrige Gordon of Esslemont, yr, [born 10 May, 1990], gave birth to a son, Rafe Alexander Robert, 10 May, 2025, a brother for Serena Alice Henrietta, who was born 6 September, 2022.

Harriet is a daughter of Cedric Vincent Bayley McMillan (born 1961), of Cranford Farm, Braishfield, Hampshire, and his wife the former Anne Nuttall.

Harry Wolrige Gordon, scion of that Scots landed gentry family, is the elder son of Charles Iain Robert Wolrige Gordon, 11th of Esslemont and 22nd of Hallhead [born 19 June, 1961], of Ellon, Aberdeenshire, by his wife the former Angela Clare Frisby [born 17 Aug, 1963], descended from the Marquesses of Bristol.

Harry Wolrige Gordon is a kinsman of HM The King in his descent from the Abel Smith family. His grandfather, Robert Wolrige Gordon, 10th of Esslemont and 21st of Hallhead [1928-95], married Rosemary Jane Abel Smith [born 1 March, 1936], scion of that landed family, daughter of Vice-Admiral Sir Conolly Abel Smith, GCVO [1899-1985], by his wife the former Lady Mary Elizabeth Carnegie [1899-1996], daughter of the 10th Earl of Southesk [1854-1941].

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Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Gillian Margaret Gurdon (née Thomson) 1936-2025

Gillian Margaret Gurdon, who died 9 May, 2025, aged 88, was the widow of Brigadier Adam Gurdon , CB, CBE, DL, and was the mother of the Baroness Lloyd-Webber.

She was the former Gillian Margaret Gurdon and married in 1958, Brigadier Adam Brampton Douglas Gurdon, CB, CBE, DL, late the Black Watch, died 22 May, 2019. He was head of the landed gentry family of that name, and was born in 1931, son of Major-Gen Edward Temple Leigh Gurdon, CB, CBE, MC [1896-1959], of Burgh House, Suffolk, by his wife the former Elizabeth Madeleine Wilson [1901-67]. 

Mrs Gurdon leaves four daughters, Miranda, Madeleine, Melanie and Mary Lou. His daughter, Madeleine Astrid, married, as his third wife, 1991, Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer, later created a life peer as Baron Lloyd-Webber, KG.

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Hon Mrs Richard Stanley (1929--2025)

 The Hon Mrs Richard Stanley died 22 April, 2025, aged 95. She was the second wife, and widow, of the Hon Richard Oliver Stanley (1920-83), scion of the Earls of Derby.

The former Mary Tylor, was born in London in July, 1929, a daughter of Maj Vyvian Alfred Tylor, MC (1895-1968), of Robins Farm, Iping, Midhurst, Sussex, and his wife the former Irene Violet Liebert (1900-1982), descended from the Trelawny baronets.

She was thrice married. She married 1stly, 1956 (div 1961), Wing Commander Paul Henry Mills Richey, RAF (1916-1989); secondly, 1968, William Herbert Harrison; and thirdly, in 1979, as his second wife, the Hon Richard Oliver Stanley (born 29 January, 1920), second son of Edward Cavendish Montagu Stanley, styled Lord Stanley, MP, MC, PC (1894-1938), and his wife the Hon Sibyl Louise Beatrix Cadogan (1893-1969). Lord Stanley was the eldest son and heir of the 17th Earl of Derby (1865-1948), whom he predeceased. 

The Hon Richard Stanley, Tory MP for Fylde North 1950-66, died childless, in November, 1983. He was a younger brother of the 18th Earl of Derby (1918-1994), and uncle of the 19th Earl (born 10 Oct, 1962).

Mrs Stanley leaves a daughter, (Mary) Emma (born 1958), from her first marriage.

Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset > Sir Edward Seymour > Sir Edward Seymour 1st Bt > Sir Edward Seymour, 2nd Bt > Mary Seymour > Brig-Gen Henry Trelawny > William Trelawny > Harry Trelawny > Charles Brereton-Trelawny > Harry Brereton-Trelawny > Clarence Trelawny > Violet Mary Trelawny > Irene Violet Liebert > Mary Tylor (whom we treat)

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Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Pearson/Durnford engagement

The engagement was announced 13 May, 2025, between George Frederick Pearson (born Nov, 1995), scion of the Viscounts Cowdray, son of the Hon Charles Anthony Pearson (born 5 March, 1956), of Pitshill, West Sussex, and his Danish-born wife the former Benedicte Iuul (a previous wife of Baron Axel Henrik von Blixen-Finecke), & Francesca A. Durnford (born 1995), daughter of Capt Jonathon William Durnford (born Feb 1964), of Mentone, France, and his former wife Ceridwen Margaretta Mueller (later Mrs Cunningham, of Pimlico, London).

George Pearson is a grandson of the late 3rd Viscount Cowdray (1910-1995).

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George Hassard Stacpoole 1937-2025

 George Hassard Stacpoole, scion of an Irish anded family, died in Limerick, 10 May, 2025. He was 88.

He wasborn 7 January, 1937, the second son of Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Hassard Stacpoole, MC, RA (1896-1973), and his wife the former Helen Muriel Clare Morphy; and married 28 September, 1968, Michelina Gemma, daughter of Giuseppe Gemma, of Zungoli, Avellino, Italy, by whom he had issue, two sons, Hassard Andrew Francesco (born 23 March, 1969), and Sebastian Christopher Piero (born 21 March, 1972).

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Reviakin/Stanley engagement

 The engagement was announced 13 May, 2025, between  Alexander Ronald Reviakin (born 1996), only son of Mr Sergei Reviakin, of London, and Mrs Rosanna Gardner (nee Kelly, born 21 May, 1964), of County Wexford, Ireland, and  and the Lady Henrietta Mary Rose Stanley (born 6 February, 1997), only daughter of the 19th Earl of Derby, DL (born 10 Oct, 1962), of Knowsley Hall, Prescot, Merseyside, and the Countess of Derby (nee the Hon Caroline Neville, born 28 Dec, 1963, scion of the Barons Braybrooke).

Alexander (Sasha) Reviakin, a descendant of the 1st Viscount Camrose, began his career as a researcher and consultant on financial inclusion and innovation in the Arab world, working for various public and private sector organisations including the World Bank Group, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) and Finance in Motion.  His research has been complemented with entrepreneurial experience working to provide sustainable livelihoods to embroiderers in Lebanon. He holds an honours degree in Arabic, International Relations and History of Art with a thesis on the concept of the sublime in modern calligraphic art.

The 1st Viscount Camrose (1879-1954) > Hon Mary Cecilia Berry (1906-1996) > Alison Linda McNair Scott (1939-2019) > Rosanna Mary Kelly (b 1964) > Alexander Reviakin

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