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Saturday, February 19, 2022

Hon Mary Quenelda Stanley Seymour 1929-2022

 The Hon Mary Seymour, who died 14 February, 2022, aged 92, was a scion of the extinct Barons Ismay, and was the widow of the courtier, Maj [George] Raymond Seymour, CVO, DL [1923-2010].

Mary Quenelda Stanley Ismay was born 28 July, 1929, the third daughter of the 1st and last Baron Ismay, KG, CH, GCB, DSO, PC [1887-1965], and his wife the former Laura Kathleen Clegg [1897-1978].

Her father, a distinguished soldier, served as Sec of State for Commonwealth Relations, 1951-52, and was Secretary General of NATO, 1952-57. 

Mary Ismay married firstly, 19 Feb, 1952, Robert Mervyn Fitz Finnis, a solicitor, who died in 1955, the only son of Robert Leslie Finnis, of Palace Gate, London W8; she married 2ndly, 9 September, 1957, Maj [George] Raymond Seymour [born 5 May, 1923], scion of the Marquesses of Hertford, son of Lt-Col Sir Reginald Henry Seymour, KCVO [1878-1938], courtier, by his wife the former Winifred Ackroyd [d 1925]. It was Sir Reginald Seymour, who as equerry to King George V, woke the King and Queen with the news that the Duchess of York had given birth to Princess Elizabeth [now the Queen], in April, 1926.

Mary's 2nd husband, Raymond, held the rare distinction of having served as page of honour to three monarchs: King George V, King Edward VIII and King George VI. As such he was one of the train bearers to King George VI at the Coronation, 12 May, 1937. He was then attached to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's Household from 1954 until her death in 2002. Major Seymour died 6 October, 2010.

Mrs Seymour leaves two daughters from her first marriage, Jane [born 1953], and Sarah [known as Sussie] [born 1955], and a daughter from the second marriage, Katharine [Katy] Seymour [b 1959], wife of the 13th Baron Suffield [b 10 July, 1956].

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