The 4th Baron O'Hagan 1945-2025

 The 4th Baron O'Hagan, Member of the European Parliament (Independent) 1973-75 and for Devon (Conservative) 1979-94; Junior Opposition Whip, House of Lords 1977-79, has died aged 79.

The peer died after suffering a severe head injury. An inquest opening in Exeter revealed that the former Conservative peer died 23 March, 2025, at the North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple. 

Lord O'Hagan, Charles Towneley Strachey, was a godson of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and was a Page of Honour to the Queen 1959-1962.

He was born 6 September, 1945, son of Maj the Hon (Thomas) Anthony Edward Towneley-O'Hagan later Strachey (1917-1955), and his wife Lady Mary Sophia Palmer (1920-2001), a close friend of the late monarch, Lady-in-Waiting to HRH The Princess Elizabeth 1944-47, and an Extra Lady-in-Waiting to HRH until 1949, third daughter of the 3rd Earl of Selborne, CH, PC (1887-1971), and his wife the former Hon Grace Ridley (died 22 September, 1959), daughter of the 1st Viscount Ridley, PC (1842-1904).

He succeeded as 4th Baron O'Hagan (Peerage of the UK, cr 1870), on the death of his paternal grandfather, the 3rd Baron, 18 December, 1961.

He married 1stly, 13 Jul 1967 (div. 1984) HSH Princess Tamara Imeretinsky (former wife of Lt Cmdr Thomas Mervyn Smith-Dorrien-Smith RN, of Tresco Abbey, Isles of Scilly), 1st daughter of S/Ldr HSH Prince Michael Imeretinsky, of La Colle, Route de Castellar, Menton, France, by his wife Margaret Stella Kinnaird, former wife of Hon Patrick Charles Kinnaird MC (5th son of Arthur Fitzgerald [Kinnaird], 11th Lord Kinnaird, by his wife and cousin Mary Alma Victoria Agnew, 5th daughter of Sir Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw, 8th Bt.) and 2nd daughter of Henry FitzHerbert Wright, of Yeldersley Hall, co. Derby; and married 2ndly, March 1985 (div. 1995) Mrs Mary Claire Parsons, only dau. of Rev Leslie Roose-Francis, of Trencoth, Blisland, Bodmin, co. Cornwall; and married 3rdy, Dec 1995, Elizabeth Lesley Eve Smith, daughter of Hubert Smith, of Exeter. co. Devon.

Lord O'Hagan leaves issue, a daughter from his first marriage, the Hon Nina Natalia, and a daughter from his second marriage, the Hon Antonia Philippa Mary.

The peerage now passes to his younger brother, the Hon Richard Towneley Strachey (born 29 Dec, 1950).

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The 3rd Viscount Craigavon 1944-2025

 The Viscount Craigavon, third holder of the peerage, has died at the aged of 80.

Janric Fraser was born 9 June, 1944, son of the 2nd Viscount Craigavon (1906-1974), and his wife the former (Angela) Fiona Tatchell (died 6 Nov, 2007), daughter of Dr Percy Tatchell; and succeeded to the peerage (cr 1927) and baronetcy (cr 1918), on the demise of his father, 18 May, 1974.

The 3rd Viscount was one of the hereditary peers elected to the House of Lords in 1999.

The family honours, which now become extinct, were created for his grandfather, James Craig (1871-1940), the first prime minister of Northern Ireland.

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The 24th Lord Borthwick 1940-2025

Lord Borthwick, 24th holder of the Scottish lordship, died 26 March, 2025. He was 84.

Lord Borthwick, of Crookston, Heriot, Midlothian, was the Hereditary Royal Falconer of Scotland, and Chief of the Name and Arms of Borthwick.

John Hugh Borthwick of that Ilk, was born 14 November, 1940, the elder twin son of Henry Borthwick of Crookston (1905-96), who was recognised by Lyon Court 26 Jul 1944 as Borthwick of Borthwick;  and his claim to the Lordship of Borthwick was admitted by Lord Court in 1986, by his wife the former Margaret Frances Cormack (1911-1976). He succeeded to the Lordship on the death of his father, 30 Dec, 1996.

He married 9 Feb 1974, Adelaide Birkmyre (born 1945), daughter of Archy Birkmyre (1904-1992), of Overdale, Crieff, co. Perth (by his wife Doreen Barclay (1913-2005), daughter of Robert Barclay (1882-1949), of Glenpressen, Kilbirnie, co. Ayr), 2nd son of Sir Archibald Birkmyre, 1st Bt., CBE (1875-1935), of Dalmunzie, co. Perth, by whom he had two daughters, the Hon Georgina (born 18 Dec, 1975), and the Hon Alexandra (born 25 Aug 1977).

Lord Borthwick is succeeded by his younger twin brother, the Hon James Henry Alexander Borthwick of Glengelt.

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Elizabeth Rose Monamy Armstrong (born 2025)

 Victoria Armstrong (nee Richardson), wife of Thomas Bernard Martin Armstrong (born 9 October, 1983), gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth Rose Monamy, 3 February, 2025.

Victoria is a daughter of Adrian Richardson. Her husband, Thomas, is descended from the Barons Camoys, the third son of Nicholas Armstrong, and his wife the former Sally Ann Monamy Harrison (born 28 July, 1951), daughter of Brigadier Ernest James Cholmeley Harrison, OBE (1910-2001), & his wife the former Sheila Mary Stonor (1916-1994), scion of the Barons Camoys.

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Alexa Romilly Cosima Boyd-Bowman (born 2025)

 Eloise Violet Boyd-Bowman (née Nelson, born 2 Aug, 1988), wife of George Boyd-Bowman (born 1988), and scion of the Barons Nelson of Stafford, gave birth to a daughter, Alexa Romilly Cosima, 22 March, 2025, a sister for Alfred Quentin James, who was born 22 March, 2023.

George is the son of Robert Boyd-Bowman (born 1944), of Norfolk. Eloise is a daughter of the Hon James Jonathan Nelson (born 17 June, 1947), of Penselwood, Somerset, and his wife the former Lucy Mary Brown, and a grandson of the late 2nd Baron Nelson of Stafford (1917-1995).

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Lywood/Blackett engagement

 The engagement was announced 29 March, 2025, between Charles Hugo Gifford Lywood (born 1994), scion of that landed gentry family, son of Rupert Charles Gifford Lywood (born 1958), of Hopton Heath, Shropshire, and his wife the former Elizabeth Celia Barratt (born 1959), & Isobel Rosemary (Rosie) Blackett (born 23 May, 1997), scion of that landed gentry family, daughter of Major James William Beauchamp (Jamie) Blackett, (born 17 Oct, 1964), of Arbigland, Dumfriesshire, and his wife the former Sheralyn Isobel (Sheri) Fuller.

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Patrick George Bracher (born 2025)

Madalena Bracher (née de Andrade e Silva Gomes de Abreu), wife of Barnaby Alexander Patrick Bracher [born 1993], gave birth to a son, Patrick George, in Lisbon, 13 March, 2025.

Barnaby Bracher is a son of Mr Garnet Piers Bracher [born 1963], of Putney, London, and his wife the former Candida Dorothy Drury-Lowe [born 1963], scion of that landed gentry family.

Madalena Bracher is a daughter of Mr and Mrs Jorge de Abreu, of Estoril, Portugal.

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George Edward Dudley Wolfe Murray (born 2025)

 Katherine Withers, wife (?) of Andrew Wolfe Murray, scion of the baronets of that name, gave birth to a son, George Edward Dudley, 20 March, 2025, a brother for James Alexander Malcolm, who was born 24 February, 2019.

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Jonathan Trelawny Morshead 1942-2025

 Jonathan Trelawny Morshead, who died 3 March, 2025, aged 82, was a blues guitarist, scion of the Morshead landed gentry family, descended from the Salusbury-Trelawny baronets.

He was born 17 November, 1942, son of John Morshead (1899-1970), and his wife the former Pearl Seed; and married in 1974 (div 1984), Diana Clark. No issue of the marriage.

Sir William Salusbury-Trelawny, 8th Baronet (1781-1856) > Elizabeth Salusbury-Trelawny (1809-88) > Frederick Morshead (1836-1914) > John Morshead (1899-1970) > Jonathan Morshead (1942-2025)

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Ian Cameron Sales La Terrière 1930-2025

Capt Ian Cameron Sales La Terrière, who died 13 March, 2025, aged 94, was head of that Scots landed gentry family, of Dunalastair.

He was born 15 September, 1930, son of Maj. James Fenwick De Sales La Terrière (1901-1968), and his wife the former Frances Natalie Barker-Hahlo (later Baroness Ashtown, wife of the 5th Baron); and married 1stly, 5 April, 1957, Sarah Elizabeth Speed (who died August, 1976), daughter of Sir Robert William Arney Speed, CB, QC (1905-1999), and his wife the former Phyllis Armitage (1903-1991), scion of that landed family; married 2ndly, 8 September, 1979, Helen Rose Sanford Hodgson (born 2 May, 1947), scion of that landed gentry family, elder daughter of Lieutenant-Commander Archibald Richard Sanford Hodgson, RN (1908-1990), and his wife the former Helen Mary Ursula Pomeroy (1909-2000), scion of the Viscount Harberton.

He leaves three sons and a daughter from his 1st marriage, James, Michael, Peter and Fiona, and a further 2 sons from his 2nd marriage, Hugh and Robert. He was also predeceased by a son from the second marriage, Rory.

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Monica Juanita de Salis 1944-2025

 Monica Juanita de Salis (née Bower), died 18 February, 2025, aged 80. She was a scion of the Bower landed family.

She was born 27 December, 1944, daughter of Commander Robert Tatton Bower, RN (1894-1975), and his wife the former Hon Henrietta May Caribbea Strickland (1903-1975), daughter of the 1st and last Baron Strickland (who was also 6th Count Della Catena) (1861-1940).

She married 5 August, 1967, Bernard Peter De Salis (born 15 December, 1936), scion of that landed gentry family, son of Lieutenant-Colonel Count Peter Francis de Salis (1902-1982), and his wife the former Winifred Alice d'Anyers Willis (1910-1977), scion of that landed family, by whom she had two sons, Piers Robert (b 17 Dec, 1969), and Hugo John (b 6 May, 1971).

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Lucy Annora Murphy, CVO (née Gosling) 1938-2025

 Lucy Annora Murphy, CVO, who died 13 March, 2025, aged 87, was sometime information officer to the household of the late Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother at Clarence House.

She was a scion of the Russell Barons Ampthill, who descend from the Dukes of Bedford.

She was born 4 March, 1938, the second daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel William Douglas Gosling, MBE, DL, TD (1904-1994), and his wife the former Rosemary Russell (1907-1986), scion of the Barons Ampthill.

She married in 1981 (Donald) Royston (Roy) Murphy (1932-2007), a Metropolitan police officer, who predeceased her, son of Henry Oswald Murphy (1897-1965), and his wife the former Maria Jane Davies (1896-1979).

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Richard William Alan Reardon Smith 1946-2025

 Richard William Alan Reardon Smith, who died 4 March, 2025, aged 78, was a scion of the baronets of that name.

He was born 8 December, 1946, the second son of Alan John Reardon Smith (1914-1970), and his wife the former Winifred Maud Williams (died 2025), and was a grandson of Sir Willie Reardon Smith, 2nd Baronet (1887-1950), shipowner, & High Sheriff of Glamorgan.

He married 1stly, in 1970 (div. 1990), Suzanne Ward Jones, daughter of Jonathan Preece Jones, of Coychurch, Glamorgan; married 2ndly, 1990, (Nicola) Jane Yapp, daughter of Christopher Denis Yapp, of St Mellons, Galmorgan.

He leaves issue from both marriages, from his 1st union he leaves a son, Dylan (born 1972), and a daughter, Zahra (born 1973), and from his second marriage, a son, Samuel (born 1990)

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Jennifer Isobel Chevallier Guild (nee Gooch) 1942-2025

 Jennifer Isobel Chevallier Guild (nee Gooch), who died 14 March, 2024, aged 82, was a scion of the Gooch baronets.

She was born 7 May, 1942, the second daughter of Colonel Brian Sherlock Gooch, DSO, TD (1904-1968), and his wife the former Monica Mary Heywood (1909-1975), scion of that landed gentry family, and was a granddaughter of Sir Thomas Vere Sherock Gooch, 10th Baronet (1881-1946).

Her brother Arthur (born 1 June, 1937), succeeded as 14th baronet, 9 Apr, 2008.

She married 18 December, 1965, Lieutenant-Commander John Marjoribanks Chevallier Guild (1933-2020), scion of that landed gentry family, son of Cyril Harrower Guild (1906-1978), and his wife the former Perronelle Mary Chevallier (1902-2004), of that landed family, by whom she had two sons, John (b 2 May, 1967), and Henry (b 20 Dec, 1968).

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Clare Rosemary Hohler (née Spencer Bernard) 1938-2025

 Clare Rosemary Hohler, died 22 March, 2025, aged 86. She was a descendant of the Dukes of Marlborough.

She was born Clare Rosemary Spencer Bernard, 1 November, 1938, the second daughter of John Gray Churchill Spencer Bernard (1907-1977), descended from the 3rd Duke of Marlborough, of Winchenden House, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and his wife the former Elsie Phyllis Corley (1907-2001); and married 10 August, 1963, (Rio Tyrell) Arthur Hohler (born 15 February, 1934), head of that landed gentry family of Long Crendon, the elder son of Henry Arthur Frederick Hohler, CMG (1911-2001), of Long Crendon Manor, Aylesbury, and his 1st wife the former Mona Valentine Pirie (1909-1944), scion of that landed gentry family.

Mrs Hohler was also a Charles II descendant, having Beauclerk ancestry.

She leaves a son, Rupert (born 15 Nov, 1972), and three daughters, Harriet (b 1 Feb, 1967), Camilla (b 9 Nov, 1968), and Amanda (b 19 Nov, 1970)

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Sir Julian Roger Seymour, CBE 1945-2025

 Sir Julian Seymour, CBE, who died 23 March, 2025, aged 80, organised a rudderless Margaret Thatcher after her ejection from Downing Street, running her private office from 1991 until he retired in 2001; a director of her Foundation from 1992 to 2011, he was later her trustee and executor. He was a scion of the Marquesses of Hertford.

He was born 19 March, 1945, the second son of Lieutenant-Colonel Evelyn Roger Seymour (1908-87), and his wife the former Rosemary Evelyn Flower; and married in 1984, Diana Elizabeth Griffith, by whom he had a son, Archie (born  1989), and a daughter, Rose (born 1987). 

He was descended from the 1st Marquess of Hertford.

He was appointed CBE in 2001, and knighted in 2014.

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Sandford/Middleton-Frith engagement

 The engagement was announced 26 March, 2025, between Fergus Ruscombe Sandford (born 4 July, 1995), scion of that landed gentry family, son of Philip Roland Thomas Sandford (born 1961), of Strangford, County Down, and his wife the former Anna Rosamund Tindall (born 1962), & Harriet Hester K. Middleton-Frith (born 2004), daughter of Captain George R.G. Middleton, by his wife the former Susan F.C. Frith (born cira 1955).

The Sandfords descend from the Earls of Dalhousie:-

The 8th Earl of Dalhousie (1730-87) > Lt-Gen Hon John Ramsay (1775-1842) > Gen Sir Henry Ramsay (1816-93) > Mary Louisa Ramsay (1852-1918) > Mary Ellen Birney (1875-1972) > Joan Davies (1913-1993) > Susan Rosamund Streatfeild (b 1941) > Anna Rosamund Tindall (b 1962) > Fergus Sandford (b 1995)

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The Baroness Howarth of Breckland, OBE 1940-2025

The Baroness Howarth of Breckland, OBE, who died 23 March, 2025, aged 84, was a crossbench member of the House of Lords, a life peer.

Valerie Georgina Howarth was born 5 September, 1940. 

She was appointed OBE in 1999 for her services to Childline, and raised to the peerage for life in 2001, as Baroness Howarth of Breckland, of Parsons Cross in the County of South Yorkshire,

She was one of the board members of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service.

Baroness Howarth became the Chair of Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) in 2008. 

She was the former Chief Executive of ChildLine and also worked for many years at Chief Officer and Assistant Chief Officer level in social services departments. She served on the board of the Food Standards Agency, was a trustee for a number of Children's charities, and was a patron of the National Youth Advocacy Scheme.

She was vice-chair of the National Care Standards Commission and was secretary to the All Parliamentary Children's Group.

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Robert Stuart Innes-Smith 1928-2025

 Robert Stuart Innes-Smith, of that landed gentry family, died 20 January, 2025. He was 96.

He was born in 1928, son of Capt Stuart William Innes-Smith, MM, RAF (1897-1953), and his wife the former Florence Constance Green (1899-1977);  and married 1954, Elizabeth Greta (Betsy) Lamb (1927-2009), daughter of Bertram John Lamb (1887-1938), of Chestfield Manor, Whitstable, Kent, and his wife the former Greta Reeves (1905-1984), by whom he had issue, a son, James Stuart Tenison Innes-Smith (b 4 Oct, 1966), and two daughters, Victoria (b 1957), and Augusta (b 1961). 

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Nicola Penn Coverdale (nee Symons) 1942-2025

Nicola Penn Coverdale (nee Symons), who died 16 March, 2025, aged 82, was a descendant of the Earls of Mar.

She was born 4 April, 1942, the eldest daughter of Peter Nicholas Symons (1917-1951), and his wife the former Suzanne Penzer Haynes (1919-2004); and married 14 September, 1963, John Philip A. Coverdale (1934-2018), son of Philip Frederick Coverdale (1906-1999), and his wife the former Elizabeth Mary Murray-Davey (1907-1996), and had issue, two sons, Peter (b 1970), Philip (b 1978), and two daughters, Anna (b 1966), and Sarah (b 1968).

John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1772-1828) > Lady Frances Erskine (d 1842) > Lady Eliza Erskine Goodeve (1834-1917) > Beatrice Cole (1863-1936) > Mary Ferguson (1888-1970) > Peter Symons (1917-51) > Nicola Symons (1942-2025)

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Hopkinson/Goëss-Saurau engagement

 The engagement was announced 24 March, 2025, between between Rory Douglas Rooke Hopkinson (born 1995), son of Charles J.D. Rooke Hopkinson, of Bigsweir, Gloucestershire, and his wife, the former Caroline M. Francis, and Franziska Susanna M. (Pumbaa) Goëss -Saurau (born 10 May, 1997), daughter of Count (Johann) Konrad Zeno Julian Goëss-Saurau (born 9 January, 1952), of Frohnleiten, Austria, and his 2nd wife, Countess Susi-Goëss-Saurau (nee Williams),  of Bassett Down, Wiltshire.

Countess Susan Jane Goëss-Saurau (nee Williams), is the daughter of Michael Williams, of Fairfield House, Pedmore, Worcestershire, and she married 1stly, 1986 (div) Peter Christopher Edward Farquhar (born 3 Aug, 1959), scion of the Farquhar baronets. She married 2ndly, 1996, Johann Konrad Zeno Julian, Graf von Goess-Saurau.

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Slade/Henniker engagement

 The engagement was announced 22 March, 2025, between Peter L. Slade and Rosanna Josephine Major Henniker (born 1989), scion of the Barons Henniker, daughter of Christopher Anthony Major Henniker (born 20 October, 1952), of Chiswick, London, and his wife the former Bernadette Ball.

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Ronald James Bremner Hoare 1939-2025

 Ronald James Bremner Hoare has died aged 85.

He was born in 1939 a son of Wilfred James Hoare (who died in 2003), of Orwell House, Milnathort, Kinross, by his wife the former Grace Margaret Bremner (who died 2009); & married 11 September, 1971, Elizabeth Albinia Bacon (born 15 January, 1944), daughter of Sir Edmund Castell Bacon, Bt, KG, KBE, TD (1903-1982), and his wife the former Priscilla Dora Ponsonby (1913-2000), scion of the Ponsonby Barons De Mauley, by whom he had issue, a son, Jocelyn Charles Stewart Hoare (born 1974), and a daughter, Nicola Clare (born 1977).

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Poppy Jane Charlesworth (born 14/03/2025)

 Charlotte Mary Charlesworth [nee Cubitt, born 28 January, 1991], wife of Edward Charlesworth, and scion of the Cubitt landed gentry family, gave birth to a daughter, Poppy Jane, 14 March, 2025, a sister for Harry George, who was born 23 April, 2021, and for Flora Lucy, born 29 September, 2022.

Edward Charlesworth is a son of Mr & Mrs Rodney Charlesworth, of St Albans, Hertfordshire, and Charlotte Charlesworth is a daughter of Major-Gen Sir William George Cubitt, KCVO, CBE, DL [born 1959], of Honing, Norfolk, and his wife the former Lucy Jane Pym [born 24 Sept, 1961], scion of that landed gentry family.

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Rory Charles Andrew Henniker-Major (born 2025)

 Sophie L. Henniker-Major [nee Short], wife of George Richard Henniker-Major [born 1985], scion of the Barons Henniker, gave birth to a son, Rory Charles Andrew, 15 March, 2025, a brother for Eliza Beatrice Mary, who was born 18 September, 2019, and for Arthur Henry Rupert, who was born 23 November, 2021.

George is a son of John Alexander Henniker-Major [born 1952], of Great Easton, Leicestershire, by his wife the former Mary Mathiesen.

Sophie Henniker-Major is the elder daughter of Mr & Mrs Andrew Short, of Woking.

7th Baron Henniker > Hon Richard Henniker-Major > John Henniker-Major > George Henniker-Major > Rory Henniker-Major [b 2025]

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