The Baroness Peyton of Yeovil 1921-2022

 The Baroness Peyton of Yeovil, who died 16 June, 2022, aged 101, was the widow of John Peyton, the Baron Peyton of Yeovil, PC [1919-2006].

Her husband was the Conservative Member of Parliament for Yeovil for over 31 years, from 1951 to 1983, and an early and leading member of the Conservative Monday Club. He served as Minister of Transport (later renamed Minister of Transport Industries in the Department of the Environment) in Edward Heath's administration from 1970 to 1974. He was a candidate for leader of the Conservative Party in 1975, losing to Mrs Margaret Thatcher.

Lady Peyton was born 12 February, 1921, as Mary Constance Wyndham, scion of the Barons Leconfield, daughter of Brigadier-General the Hon Everard Humphrey Wyndham, MC [1888-1970], and his wife the former Ruth Constance Astley [1900-84], scion of the Astley baronets. She was a granddaughter of the 2nd Baron Leconfield [1830-1901], and his wife the Lady Constance Evelyn Primrose [died 27 June, 1939], scion of the Earls of Rosebery.

Mary Wyndham married firstly, as his second wife, 20 June, 1945 [div 1966], Ralph Hamilton Cobbold [1906-87], scion of that landed gentry family, son of Col. Ralph Cobbold [who later assumed the surname of Sawle] [1869-1965], and his wife the former Minnie Diana Pitt [1865-1936]; she married 2ndly, 27 July, 1966, as his second wife, the abovementioned John Wynne William Peyton, MP, PC [born 13 Feb, 1919], son of Ivor Eliot Peyton [1863-1938], and his wife the former Dorothy Helen Elphinstone [1888-1977].

Her second husband was created a life peer as Baron Peyton of Yeovil, on leaving the House of Commons in 1983, and he died 22 November, 2006.

Lady Peyton of Yeovil leaves two children from her first marriage, David Cobbold [born 5 Oct, 1946], and Charlotte Ruth Cobbold [born 20 Aug, 1949].

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