Caroline Diana Brooks (née Todd) 1931-2025

Caroline Diana Brooks died 29 December, 2025. She was 94.

She was born in 1931 as Caroline Diana Todd, daughter of Brigadier George Herbert Norris Todd (1897-1971), of Moreton-in-the-Marsh, Gloucestershire, by his wife the former Alice Nina Dixon (1897-1975); and married 8 October, 1955, Robert Noel Brand Brooks (born 17 December, 1927), scion of the Barons Crawshaw, son of Major Noel Brand Brooks (1896-1984), and his wife the former Joan Margaret Le Marchant (1901-1984), scion of the Le Marchant baronets, by whom she had issue, two sons, Christopher George (born 30 March, 1959), and Charles Patrick Evelyn (born 3 March, 1963), and a daughter, Annabel Joan (born 4 January, 1958).

Her husband died in 1976.

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Chantal Marie-Françoise Portal (née Guerrier de Dumast) (died 2025)

 Chantal Marie-Françoise Portal, died 10 December, 2025, aged 89.

She was a daughter of Baron Gabriel Marie-François Guerrier de Dumast, of Chateau de Rozet, Saint-Vit, Doubs, France, and married 20 May, 1956, Anthony Portal (born 19 June, 1932), second son of Admiral Sir Reginald Henry Portal, KCB, DSC (1894-died 18 June, 1983), by his wife the former Helen Sophia Anderson (died 3 Apr, 1983), by whom she had issue, three sons, Frederick (born 27 Sept, 1958), William (born 10 Sept, 1961), and Philip (born 16 Sept, 1963).

Her husband's father was a younger brother of Marshal of the Royal Air Force Charles Frederick Algernon Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford, KG, GCB, OM, DSO & Bar, MC, DL (1893 – 1971).

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Lord Charles Adam Brudenell-Bruce 1951-2025

 Lord Charles Adam Brudenell-Bruce, who died 27 December, 2025, aged 74, was a scion of the Marquesses of Ailesbury.

He was born 23 March, 1951, a son of the 7th Marquess of Ailesbury (1904-1974), and his third wife, Mrs Jean Frances Margaret Williamson (who died 14 February, 1999),  widow of Squadron Leader Richard Williamson MBE), daughter of John Addison Wilson, of Bodicote, Banbury, co. Oxford.

He married 14 September, 1996, Teresa Patricia Helena-Maria Chris Simons (born November, 1948), daughter of G.T. Simons, of Collingbourne Ducis, near Salisbury, Wiltshire.

The funeral is to take place at St Katharine's Church, Savernake, 23 January, 2026.

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Drake/Clarke engagement

 The engagement was announced 1 January, 2026, between Lieut. Arthur John Courtney Drake, RN (born 1998), son of John Arthur Courtney Drake (born 10 Oct, 1951), of Thorney, Somerset, by his second wife the former Lucia Mary Kennard (born 20 April, 1963), scion of the Kennard and Mytton landed families, & Olivia Elizabeth A. Clarke (born 1998), daughter of Francis H. Clarke, of Harston, Cambridgeshire, and his wife the former Charlotte F. House.

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