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Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Lavinia Joan Hankinson [nee Lascelles] 1923-2020

 _. Lavinia Hankinson, who died 3 November, 2020, aged 97, was a scion of the Earls of Harewood, and a former wife of Gavin Maxwell, the writer, author of "Ring of Bright Water".

She was born Lavinia Joan Lascelles, 27 June, 1923, daughter of the Rt Hon Sir Alan Frederick [Tommy] Lascelles, GCB, GCVO, CMG, MC [1887-1981], by his wife the former Hon Joan Frances Vere Thesiger [1895-1971], daughter of the 1st Viscount Chelmsford [1868-1933].

She was a great-granddaughter of the 4th Earl of Harewood. HRH The Prince of Wales [later King Edward VIII and Duke of Windsor] stood sponsor at her christening.

Her father served as Assistant Private Secretary to HRH The Prince of Wales [later King Edward VIII] 1920-29, Assistant Private Secretary to King George V 1935-36, Assistant Private Secretary to King Edward VIII in 1936, Assistant Private Secretary to King George VI 1936-43, then Private Secretary to King George VI 1943-52, and finally Private Secretary and Keeper of the Queen's Archives to Queen Elizabeth II, 1952-3.

Lavinia Lascelles married 1stly, 30 March, 1946 [divorced 1960], Maj Edward Westland Renton, of The Black Watch; she married 2ndly, 1 Feb 1962 [div 1964], Gavin Maxwell, the author, who died in 1969, scion of the Maxwell baronets; married 3rdly, in 1969, as his second wife, Commander David Kyrle Hankinson, RN [1928-2011], a naval gunnery officer and successful portrait painter. She was widowed, 4 Apr, 2011.

Mrs Hankinson leaves issue from her first marriage, two sons, Nicholas and Simon Renton.

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