The 4th Marquess of Zetland, DL 1937-2026

 The 4th Marquess of Zetland, a North Yorkshire landowner, died 24 January, 2026, aged 88.

The Marquess was seated at Aske, near Richmond, North Yorkshire. A peer of the Turf, he was a founding director of the British Horseracing Board 1993-97, and member of the Jockey Club (Steward 1992-94); and appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire in 1997.

Lawrence Mark Dundas was born 28 December, 1937, the eldest of the three sons of the 3rd Marquess of Zetland (1908-1989), and his wife the former (Katherine Mary) Penelope Pike (1914-2003), scion of that landed gentry family, the second daughter of Col Ebenezer John Lecky Pike CBE MC (1884-1965), of Little Glebe, Fontwell, co. Sussex, by his wife Olive Constance Snell (1888-1962), only daughter of Edward Snell, of Monk Okehampton, co. Devon.

He was educated at Harrow then Oxford University, and served in the Grenadier Guards (2nd Lieutenant).

Lawrence Dundas was styled Earl of Ronaldshay from 1961 (when his father succeeded to the family honours), until succeeding as 4th Marquess, 5 October, 1989.

He was 4th Marquess of Zetland (United Kingdom, let. pat. 22 Aug 1892), 6th Earl of Zetland (United Kingdom, let. pat. 2 Jul 1838), 4th Earl of Ronaldshay (United Kingdom, let. pat. 22 Aug 1892), 7th Baron Dundas, of Aske in the County of York, Great Britain, let. pat. 13 Aug 1794), and 8th Baronet, styled "of Kerse" (Great Britain, let. pat. 16 Nov 1762).

The 1st Marquess was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in Queen Victoria's reign and a prominent freemason, the 2nd Marquess was sometime Secretary of State for India, and the 3rd Marquess was chairman of the racecourses at Catterick and Redcar, and was Provincial Grand Master, North and East Ridings of Yorkshire, of the Society of Freemasons 1956-89.

His siblings include Lord David Dundas (born 2 June, 1945), the pop singer and actor, best known for his chart success in the pop genre during the 1970s, including his biggest hit "Jeans On", as well as his later career in film and television scores, and Lord Bruce Dundas (born 6 Jan, 1951), and Lady Serena Kettlewell (1940-2012).

He married 4 April, 1964, Susan Rose Chamberlin (born circa Apr, 1940), 2nd daughter of Guy Ronald Chamberlin (1911-1991), of Shefford House, Great Shefford, Newbury, co. Berkshire, by his wife the former Geraldine Mary Payne-Cook (1913-1963), by whom he had issue, two sons, Robin, styled Earl of Ronaldshay (born 5 March, 1965), and Lord James Dundas (born 2 May, 1967), and two daughters, Lady Henrietta (born 9 Feb, 1970), and Lady Victoria (born 2 Jan, 1973).

His elder son succeeds as 5th Marquess of Zetland. He is married with four daughters, and his heir presumptive is his younger brother, Lord James Dundas.

Those mighty tomes Burke's Peerage and Debrett's incorrectly state that the father of the Marchioness of Zetland was Guy Richard Chamberlin, when in fact his father was Guy RONALD, as recorded at the General Register Office.

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Hon Fiona Campbell 1932-2026

 The Hon Fiona Campbell, who died 6 January, 2026, aged 93, was a scion of the Barons Stratheden.

She was born in 1932, the third daughter of Brigadier the 4th Baron Stratheden, CBE (1899-1981), and his first wife the former Jean Helen St Clair Anstruther-Gray, CBE (1901-1956), Sscion of the Anstruther baronets, of Balcaskie. She was unmarried.

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Josephine Cicely Alice Willoughby 1931-2026

 Josephine Cicely Alice Willoughby died 14 January, 2026. She was 94.

She was a scion of the Barons Middleton and descended from the 8th Duke of Somerset, born 21 June, 1931, the elder daughter of Commander Ronald George Edward Willoughby, RN (1884-1971), and his wife the former Constance Louisa Sherbrooke (1894-1977), scion of that landed gentry family. She was unmarried.

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The 2nd Baron Clitheroe, DL 1929-2026

 The 2nd Baron Clitheroe died 19 January, 2026. He was 96.

Lord Clitheroe, of Downham Hall, Clitheroe, Lancashire, was a businessman who served as Deputy Chief Executive of the Rio Tinto Group, and as Chairman of RTZ Chemicals, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto. He also served as Chairman of the Yorkshire Bank from 1990 to 1999. He was appointed to be a Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire in 1986. He became a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Skinners in 1955. He also served as Vice-Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire from 1995 to 1999.

Ralph John Assheton was born 3 November, 1929, the elder son of the then Ralph Assheton, MP, PC (born 24 February, 1901), by his wife the Hon Sylvia Benita Frances Hotham (1903-1991), daughter of the 6th Baron Hotham (1863-1923).

His father was MP for Rushcliffe from 1934 to 1945, for the City of London from 1945 to 1950, and for Blackburn West from 1950 to 1955. In the wartime government under Winston Churchill, he was Minister of Supply in 1942, and Financial Secretary to the Treasury from 1942 to 1944. He was sworn of the Privy Council in the 1944 New Year Honours, and served as Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1944 to 1946. He was raised to the peerage as Baron Clitheroe, in 1955. He was also the 2nd Baronet.

He succeeded his father, 18 September, 1984, as 2nd Baron Clitheroe and as 3rd Baronet.

He married 2 May, 1961, Juliet Hanbury (1936-2025), daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Lionel Hanbury, MBE, JP, TD (1905-1997), and his wife the former Lettice Mary Charrington (1906-1980), by whom he had issue, two sons Ralph and John and a daughter, Elizabeth. The elder son, the Hon Ralph Christopher Assheton (born 19 March, 1962), succeeds to the peerage and baronetcy.

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George Nathaniel Mathias (born 2026)

 Henrietta Ghislaine Mathias (nee de Pelet), wife of Charles M.J. Mathias, gave birth to a son, George Nathaniel, in New York, 5 January, 2026, a brother for Eleanor.

Charles is the elder son of Mr & Mrs Carlo Mathias, of Aalst, Belgium.

Henrietta [born 1982], is a daughter of Comte Michael de Pelet, of Purse Caundle, Dorset, by his wife the former Charlotte Anne Kennard [born 4 Nov, 1956].

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The Baron Blackwater

 The life peerage recently bestowed upon Simon James Heffer, has been gazetted in the name, style and title of Baron Blackwater, [territorial designation to follow].

Lord Blackwater (born 18 July 1960) is an English historian, journalist, author, and political commentator.  He has published several biographies and a series of books on the social history of Great Britain from the mid-nineteenth century until the end of the First World War. He was appointed professorial research fellow at the University of Buckingham in 2017. He took on the enormous task of editing and publishing the journals of Sir Henry 'Chips' Channon.

Blackwater has worked as a columnist for the Daily Mail and since 2015 has had a weekly column in The Sunday Telegraph. As a political commentator, Heffer takes a socially conservative position.

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Sir (William) Roland Cedric Jackson, 9th Baronet 1954-2026

Sir (William) Roland Cedric Jackson, 9th Baronet, died suddenly, 10 January, 2026, while hill climbing in Cumbria, the day after his 72nd birthday. 

He was born 9 January, 1954, son of Sir William Thomas Jackson, 8th Baronet (1927-2004), and his wife the former Gillian Malise Stobart (1929-2009), scion of that landed gentry family; and succeeded to the baronetcy [cr UK, 1969], upon his father's death, 2004; and married in 1977, Dr Nicola Mary Davis, daughter of Professor Peter Reginald Davis, of Polvean, St Mawes, Cornwall, by whom he had three sons, Adam (b 1982), James Anthony Foljambe Jackson (b 11 March, 1984) and Oliver Thomas Peter Jackson (b 1990). The eldest son, Adam William Roland (born at Newmarket, 19 May, 1982), succeeds as 10th Baronet.

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Major the Hon Edward Renfric Arundell 1933-2026

 Maj the Hon Edward Renfric (Ted) Arundell, late the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, who died 13 January, 2026, aged 92, was a scion of the Barons Talbot of Malahide.

He was born 2 November, 1933, second son of Reginald John Arthur Arundell (1900-1953), and his wife the former Winifred Nellie Castle (1895-1954). 

His elder brother Reginald (1931-2016), in 1987 succeeded as 10th Baron Talbot of Malahide, and four years later, in 1991, Edward was raised to the rank of the younger son of a Baron.

He married 27 September, 1961, Margaret Ann Honoria Macnab (born 22 May, 1940), daughter of Brigadier John Francis Macnab of Barravorich, CBE, DSO (1906-1980), and his wife (Dorothy) Margaret Treadwell (1903-88), by whom he had issue, three daughters, Lucinda, Camilla and Nicola.

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Viscount Kingsborough engaged to Amy Gregg

The engagement was announced 27 January, 2026, between Charles Avery Edward King-Tenison, syled Viscount Kingsborough (born 18 November, 2000), the only son and heir of the 12th Earl of Kingston (born 20 March, 1969), by his first 1st wife, Ruth Margaret, Countess of Kingston (nee Buckner, born 1967); and Amy Elizabeth J. Gregg (born circa 1993), daughter of Paul Richard Gregg (born Feb 1966), of Cricklade, Wiltshire, and his wife the former Jill Susan Hunt (born 1961).

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Edward John Francis Morant 1941-2026

Edward John Francis Morant, who died 22 January, 2026, aged 84, was head of that landed gentry family and a great-grandson of the 9th Earl of Harrington.

He was born in 1941, son of John Morant (1907-1997), and his 1st wife the former Margaret Elizabeth Brunner (1907-1964), and was a grandson of Edward John Eden Morant (1868-1910), of Brockhurst Park, Hampshire, and his wife Lady Kathleen Florence Mary Stanhope (1884-1971), daughter of the 9th Earl of Harrington (1859-1928).

He married in 1965, Algie Linda Davies (born 1943), daughter of Angus Stanley Davies (1911-1976), of Chelsea, by his wife the former Viola Phoebe Stimson (1913-2012), by whom he had issue, a son, John Harry Eden Morant (1967-2003), and a daughter, Laura (born 1970).

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Leith/Maudslay engagement

The engagement was announced 27 January, 2926, between Oliver Christophe Leith (born 1991), son of Marcus Leith, of Mattishall, Norfolk, and his wife nee ___ Oliver; and Fenella Alice Maudslay (born 23 March, 1992), scion of that landed gentry family, youngest daughter of John Rennie Maudslay (born 1953), of Forneth, Perthshire, and his wife the former Alexandra Lothian (born 1958).

Fenella is a granddaughter of Maj Sir James Rennie Maudslay, GCVO, KCB, MBE (1915-88), Keeper of the Privy Purse to the Royal Household and an Equerry to HM Queen Elizabeth II.

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Cator/Horswell engagement

Christian Cator.

 The engagement was announced 27 January, 2026, between Christian David Cator (born Oct 1996), scion of that landed gentry family, son of Albemarle John Cator (born 23 August, 1953), of Woodbastwick Hall, Norfolk, and Mrs Victoria Katharine Cator (nee Pank, born July, 1954), of London & Honor Daisy Horswell (born 16 April, 1997), daughter of Edward Francis Horswell (born 9 May, 1956), the polo player, of Chelsea, London, and his wife the former Nona Maria Gallwey (born 6 June, 1969), daughter of (William) Dayrell Gallwey (born 6 Feb, 1931), of Tramore, Co Waterford, to be found in Burke's Irish Family Records.

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Clare Georgina, Countess of Iveagh 1974-2025

Clare Iveagh.

 Clare Georgina, Countess of Iveagh, who died 23 December, 2025, aged 51, was the former wife of the Guinness heir, the 4th Earl of Iveagh.

She was born Clare Georgina Hazell, at Reading, Berkshire, 5 February, 1974, the eldest of the three daughters of Derek Ralph Hazell (1946-2022), and his wife the former Andrea Frances Whelan (born 1946); and married 27 October, 2001 (divorced 2021), Arthur Edward Rory Guinness, 4th Earl of Iveagh (born 10 Aug 1969), son of the late 3rd Earl of Iveagh (1937-1992), and his wife the former Miranda Daphne Jane Smiley (1940-2010), scion of the Smiley baronets, by whom she had issue, two sons, Arthur Guinness, styled Viscount Elveden (born 6 January, 2003), and the Hon Rupert Guinness (born July, 2005).

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The Baron Flight 1948-2026

 Lord Flight, life peer, died 24 January, 2026. He was 77.

Howard Emerson Flight was born 16 June, 1948. He was a Conservative politician & member of the House of Lords. Flight was the Conservative MP for Arundel and South Downs from 1997 to 2005. He held several Shadow posts: Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury from 1999 to 2001, Shadow Paymaster General from 2001 to 2002, and Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 2002 to 2004.

He was raised to the peerage for life in 2011, and took the title Baron Flight, of Worcester in the County of Worcestershire.

He married in 1973, Christabel Diana Beatrice Norbury (born 1946), daughter of Christopher Paget Norbury (1908-1975), and his wife the former Lisa Juliane Emilie Gnacinski (1910-1985), 

Lady Flight is a descendant of the Wake baronets.

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MacDermot/Begg engagement

The engagement was announced 26 January, 2025, between Thomas Arthur MacDermot (born 1998), son of Dominic Charles MacDermot (born 27 September, 1955), of São Paulo, Brazil, scion of that landed gentry family, and his wife the former Renata Rehder, daughter of Reuben A. Rehder, of São Paulo, Brazil, and Clementine Agar Begg (born 1 February, 1998), second daughter of Robin Mark Begg (born October, 1959), of Charlton Musgrove, Somerset and his wife the former Teleri Jane Bligh (born Dec 1962).

The head of the MacDermot family is known as the _Prince of Coolavin_ and was a title first applied by popular usage to Charles MacDermot (1707–1758), then head of the MacDermot family of Moylurg. Coolavin is a barony in south County Sligo in Ireland. Up to the late 16th century the head of the family were still Kings of Moylurg, but had lost their lands due to confiscation. The adoption of the term indicated that the family considered themselves "princes", and also considered as such by their neighbours. The title continued to be used by the head of the family into the 21st century.

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Packe-Drury-Lowe/De St Pierre Bunbury engagement

 The engagement was announced 26 January, 2026, between Major George Thomas Naylor Packe-Drury-Lowe (born 10 September, 1994), scion of that landed gentry family, son of Edward Packe-Drury-Lowe (born 1965), of Prestwold Hall, Leicestershire, and his former wife, Samantha Burgess (nee Naylor), of East Wittering, and Madeleine de St Pierre Bunbury (born 1995), daughter of Major Michael C. de St Pierre Bunbury, of Mustique, and his wife the former Charlotte (Lotty) M. Cardozo.

George married firstly, at Dijon, France, 7 January, 2017, Judith Martory, by whom he has a daughter, Ursula.

Charlotte's aunt, Elizabeth Cardozo, is a former wife of the Marquess of Northampton's heir, Earl Compton. Her grandmother is Eleanor Caroline Cardozo (nee Brotherton-Ratcliffe, born 1942), scion of that landed gentry family.

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Powell/Spencer engagement

The engagement was announced 24 January, 2025, between Myles Edward S. Powell (born 1997), the eldest son of Dominic Paul St J. Powell (born 1966), of Clapham, London and his wife the former Katherine M.A. Tidbury (born 1963), & India Jane Spencer (born 4 December, 1998), daughter of Richard Jeremy Spencer (born 31 January, 1958), of Longworth Oxfordshire, and his wife the former Catherine Alexandra Herbert (born 12 October, 1963), daughter of Richard Weston Herbert (1922-2009), and his first wife Olivia Joan Wedderburn (born 2 June, 1934), scion of the Wedderburn baronets of Blackness.

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Martin Robert Grant Peterkin 1942-2026

 Martin Robert Grant Peterkin died 20 January, 2026, aged 83.

He was born in 1942, a son of Hugh Grant Peterkin (1911-1980), and his wife the former Rosemary Margaret Uprichard (b. 1915, died 4 Apr, 2009); and was a grandson of Colonel Montagu James Grant Peterkin, OBE (1871-1954), of Grange Hall, Forres, Morayshire, by his wife Elizabeth Margaret Buller-Fullerton-Elphinstone (1874-1945), scion of the Lords Elphinstone.

He married in 1973, Barbara L. (Bee) Jensen, by whom he had three sons, Christopher (born 1977), Charles (born 1979), & Michael (born 1983).

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Jill Sara Maxwell-Hyslop (née Armstrong) 1937-2026

 Jill Sara Maxwell-Hyslop (née Armstrong), died 12 January, 2026, aged 88.

She was born Jill Sara Armstrong, 29 June, 1937, scion of the Armstrong baronets, daughter of John Andrew Armstrong (1892-1974), and his wife the former Pauline Williams; and married 21 March, 1958, Capt Alexander Bayly Maxwell-Hyslop (born 1929), scion of the Hyslop landed gentry family, elder son of Capt Alexander Henry Maxwell-Hyslop (1895-1978), and his wife the former Cecilia Joan Bayly (1902-54), scion of that landed family. Her husband died 17 February, 2016, aged 86.

She leaves issue, two daughters, Lucinda (born 2 March, 1959), and Zara (born 3 Sept, 1962_.

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Sir Peter Michael Ohlson, 4th Baronet 1939-2026

 Sir Peter Ohlson, 4th & last Baronet died 17 January, 2026, aged 86.

Peter Michael Ohlson was born 18 May, 1939, the second son of Sir Eric Olof Ohlson, 2nd Baronet (1911-1983), and his wife the former Marjorie Joan Roosmale-Cocq (c1912-2008); and was a grandson of Sir Erik Ohlson, 1st Baronet (1873-1934), the shipping magnate.

He succeeded to the baronetcy (cr 1920), on the death of his elder brother, Sir Brian, the 3rd Baronet, on 19 March, 2017.

He married 18 October, 1968, Sarah Brodie (born 1946), daughter of Major-General Thomas Brodie, CB CBE DSO (1903-1993) and his wife the former Jane Margaret Chapman-Walker (1909-1992), and had two daughters, Gemma (born 8 Oct, 1971), and Emily (born 1974)..

The baronetcy now becomes extinct

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Delphine Penelope Angus (born 2025)

Sarah Jane Angus [née Frere-Cook, born 1986], wife of Alexander Angus, gave birth to a daughter, Delphine Penelope, 3 November, 2025, a sister for Isla Olivia Rosemary, born 16 July, 2018, for Artie Aubrey, 1 April, 2021, and Tiggy Jane Joanna, born 25 November, 2022.

Sarah Angus is a descendant of the Cracroft-Amcotts landed gentry family, daughter of Simon Aubrey Cracroft Fere-Cook [born 1955], and his wife the former Jennifer Jane Greenwood, and a granddaughter of Lieutenant-Col Gervis Hugh Frere Frere-Cook [1928-74], and his wife Rosemary Grace Cracroft-Amcotts [1928-2014].

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Riall/Innes Ker engagement

Lady Bella.

The engagement was announced 23 January, 2026, between Phineas Patrick (Finn) Riall (born 28 October, 1993), late the Irish Guards, scion of that Irish landed gentry family of Old Conna Hill, eldest son of Capt. Thomas Richard Phineas Riall (born 1960), of Kington Magna, Dorset, and his wife the former Mary Elizabeth Benyon (born 1965), scion of that landed gentry family, and the Lady Isabella Mary (Bella) Innes-Ker (born 7 September, 1994), the equestrian, daughter of the late 10th Duke of Roxburghe (1954-2019), and of the Dowager Duchess of Roxburghe (nee Virginia Mary Wynn-Williams), of Eastbury, Berkshire.

Finn's sister, Roseanne Eleanor Riall, announced her engagement in 2020, to Jack Bartholomew, whose mother, the former Carolyn Pride, was a friend and flatmate of the then Lady Diana Spencer at the time of her engagement to the Prince of Wales in 1981.

Finn's mother was High Sheriff of Berkshire in 2020.

Finn Riall is a grandson maternally of the late Sir William Benyon, MP (1930-2014), of Englefield House, Berkshire, and is a nephew of the Lord Benyon, GCVO, PC (born 1960), Lord Chamberlain to the Royal Household, and is a great-great-great-grandson of the Prime Minister the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury.

Finn is a grandson paternally of Major Patrick Dudley Erskine Riall (1921-2000), of Kilmacanogue, Leinster, and his wife the former Jane Priscilla Wells (1932-2004), descended from the Barons (later Earls) of Harrowby.

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Anthony John Fletcher 1941-2026

Prof. Anthony John Fletcher died 3 January, 2026, aged 84.

He was born 24 April, 1941, son of Clarence John Molyneux Fletcher (1910-1986), and his wife the former Isabel Clare Chevenix Trench (1915-2010), scion of the Barons Ashtown; and married firstly, 29 July, 1967, Tresna Dawn Russell; married 2ndly, 6 September, 2006, Brenda Lockhart-Smith

He leaves issue from his first marriage, two sons, Crispin (born 6 March, 1969), and Dickon (born 13 Oct, 1972).

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Baroness Martin of Brockley

The life peerage recently bestowed upon Katherine Lucy Martin has been gazetted in the name, style and title of Baroness Martin of Brockley, of Ladywell in the London Borough of Lewisham, 20 January, 2026.

Baroness Martin is to take her seat in the Lords on 27 January, 2026.

The Baroness was chief of staff to Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves. She was previously director of public affairs for Citizens Advice. 

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Baron Walker of Broxton, OBE

 The King has been pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 20 January 2026 to confer the dignity of a Barony of the United Kingdom for life upon:-

Lord Walker of Broxton.

Richard Malcolm Walker OBE, as Baron Walker of Broxton, of Broxton in the County of Cheshire. 

Lord Walker of Broxton (born 5 August 1980) is a businessman who is the executive chairman of the privately held British Iceland supermarket chain of predominately frozen food retailers. He is the son of the company's founder Malcolm Walker and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor, prior to joining Iceland.

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Baron Isaac

Lord Isaac.

The life peerage recently awarded to David Isaac, CBE, has been gazetted in the name, style and title of Baron Isaac, of Abergavenny in the County of Monmouthshire, 19 January, 2026.

 Lord Isaac is a solicitor and Provost of Worcester College, Oxford, where he took office in July 2021. He has chaired the Court of Governors of University of the Arts London since 2018, and the Henry Moore Foundation from 2024. He is also a trustee of Cumberland Lodge.

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Baron Barber of Chittlehampton

The life peerage recently conferred upon Sir Michael Bayldon Barber, has been gazetted in the name, style and title of Baron Barber of Chittlehampton, of Chittlehampton in the County of Devon, and he is to be introduced in to the House of Lords, 26 January, 2026.

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