Baron Newton of Braintree, OBE, DL (1937-2012)

The Baron Newton of Braintree, OBE, DL, who, as Anthony Newton was Conservative MP for Braintree, died 25 March, 2012, aged 74.

Tony Newton served in the administrations of Margaret Thatcher and John Major as Secretary of State for Social Security, asnd was created a life peer on leaving the Commons.

He was born 29 Aug 1937, and married (i) in 1962 (div 1986), Janet Huxley, by whom he had 2 daughters;  married (ii) Patricia Gilthorpe.

-=-

Sophie Lara Moss-Gibbons

_Michelle Moss-Gibbons (nee de Bourbon, b 12 Feb 1979) a scion of the Royal House of Bourbon, & wife of James T.D. Moss-Gibbons, gave birth to a daughter, Sophie Lara, 12 March, 2012, a sister for Emma Rose, who was b 7 June, 2010.

Michelle Moss-Gibbons is a daughter of Adrian Philip de Bourbon (b 1948), and a granddaughter of Gaetan de Bourbon, Principe di Borbone delle Due Sicilie (b 16 Apr 1917), by his wife the former Olivia Yarrow.


-=-

Hon Mrs Douglas Vivian

The Hon Mrs Douglas Vivian (nee Mary Alice Borthwick), who died 21 March, 2012, in her 99th year, was a scion of the Lords Borthwick (Peerage of Scotland cr circa 1450), and the widow of Lieut-Commander the Hon Douglas David Edward Vivian, DSC, RN (who d 1973), a scion of the Barons Vivian (Peerage of the UK, cr 1841), &c.


-==-

Garter for Blair ?

With the death of Viscount Ridley, KG, a Knight of the Garter since 1992, the Queen will be pondering on possible candidates to fill the vacancy now caused in England's senior-most Order of Chivalry.

Will Her Majesty bestow the prestigious honour on her former Prime Minister, Tony Blair in this her Diamond Jubilee Year?

The Garter is traditionally awarded on St George's Day (April 23) and is limited to 24 non-royal Knights Companion. The new knights are invested at Windsor at the start of Royal Ascot week in June, and process from the castle to St George's Chapel in the splendid Garter robes.

Former Prime Ministers nearly always collect the Garter. Harold Macmillan declined the honour, but later accepted an earldom, Alec Douglas-Home was already a Knight of the Order of the Thistle (Scotland's senior order) when he became PM in 1963. Harold Wilson collected his within weeks of his resignation in 1976, but Heath, Thatcher and Major waited several years to collect their Garter stars and ostrich plumed hats. The speed of their advancement depends on vacancies cropping up.

It would certainly go against tradition for Gordon Brown to dubbed a KG before his predecessor, but Brown, a Scot, who held a Scottish seat in Parliament, may pick up the Thistle instead.

-==-

Harry George Chilton Beard

Sophie Beard (nee Aubrey-Fletcher, b 1976), scion of the Aubrey-Fletcher Baronets, and wife of Andrew Beard, gave birth to a son Harry George Chilton, 19 March, 2012.

-=-

4th Viscount Ridley, KG, GCVO (1925-2012)

The 4th Viscount Ridley, KG, GCVO, who died 22 March, 2012, aged 86, was a former Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland, a Lord Steward of the Household to the Queen, and was holder of England's senior order of chivalry, the Order of the Garter.

Matthew White Ridlet was born 29 July, 1925, son of the 3rd Viscount by his wife the former Ursula Lutyens, daughter of Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens, OM, KCIE.

Lord Ridley was Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland 1984-2000, and served as Lord Steward of the Household, 1989-2001. He was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Garter in 1992, and GCVO in 1994.

He succeeded his father as 4th Viscount (Peerage of the UK, cr 1900), 25 Feb, 1964; married at the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, 3 Jan 1953, Lady Anne Katherine Lumley (d 2006), daughter of the 11th Earl of Scarbrough, KG, the Queen's Lord Chamberlain, by whom he had issue, 1 son and 3 daughters. The son, the Hon Matthew White Ridley, born 7 Feb, 1958, now inherits the family honours.

-=-

Hon Hedley Vicars Strutt (1915-2012)

Capt The Hon Hedley Vicars Strutt, who died 20 March, 2012, at the age of 97, was a scion of the Barons Rayleigh (cr UK, 1821), a son of Robert John Strutt, 4th Baron Rayleigh (1875-1947) by his 1st wife the former Lady Mary Hilda Clements, daughter of the 4th Earl of Leitrim; born 19 Feb, 1915; career:-----> Scots Guards (Capt) WWII; Unmarried.


-==-

Churchward/Cawley engagement

The engagement was announced 22 March, 2012 between Matthew Churchward, son of Mr & Mrs Robert Churchward, of Aveyron, France, & the Hon Susan Mary Cawley (b 1980), daughter of the 4th Baron Cawley (Peerage of the UK, cr 1918), of Leominster, Herefordshire, by his wife the former Regina Sarabia de Hazas.

-=-

Finnian Angus Peter Cameron

Sarah Elizabeth Cameron (nee Maclay, born 1977), wife of Donald Andrew John Cameron, Younger of Lochiel (born 1976), gave birth to a second son, Finnian Angus Peter, 11 March, 2012, a brother for Donald Fergus Ralph, who was born 3 July, 2010.

Donald Cameron is the son of Donald Cameron, Chief of the Clan Cameron by his wife the former Lady Cecil Kerr, daughter of the late 12th Marquess of Lothian, KCVO.


-=-

Chadwyck-Healey/Fraser engagement

The engagement was announced 21 March, 2012, between Oliver Peregrine Chadwyck-Healey (b 1982), scion of the Chadwyck-Healey Baronets (cr UK, 1919), son of Peregrine James Chadwyck-Healey (b 1950), by his wife the former Julia Mary Boughey (b 1952), scion of the Boughey Baronets, & the Hon Virginia Fortune Hart Fraser (b 1982), only dau of the 3rd Baron Strathalmond (b 22 Jul 1947), by his wife the former Amanda Rose Taylor.

-==-

Piers Scandrett Harford (1937-2012)

Piers Scandrett Harford, who died 16 March, 2012, aged 74, was a scion of the Harford Baronets (cr UK, 1934). He was born 9 Sept, 1937, 2nd son of Sir George Arthur Harford, 2nd Baronet, by his wife the former Anstice Marion Tritton, dau of Sir Alfred Tritton, 2nd Baronet; married 22 Jul 1961 (div 1972), Hyacinthe Cecilia, eldest dau of Lt-Col Nigel Walter Hoare, OBE, TD, by whom he had issue, a son,  Henry (b 1963) and a daughter, Charlotte, b 1965); married 2ndly, 1975, Patricia Jane Burnett, by whom he had a son, William (b 1976).


-==-

Sir John Cecil Nicholson Wakeley, 2nd Baronet (1926-2012)

Sir John Cecil Nicholson Wakeley, 2nd Baronet, died 10 March, 2012. He was aged 85. He was born 27 Aug 1926, son of Sir Cecil Pembrey Grey Wakeley, KBE, CB, who was created a baronet, (cr UK, 1952), and who died in 1979; married 1954, June, dau of Donald Frank Leney, by whom he had issue, 2 sons and one daughter. The son, Nicholas Jeremy b 17 Oct 1957, succeeds as 3rd Baronet.

Sir John's daughter is the fashion designer, Amanda Wakeley.

-==-

Patricia Countess Jellicoe (1917-2012)

Patricia Countess Jellicoe, who died 18 March, 2012, aged 94, was the first wife of the 2nd Earl Jellicoe (1918-2007). She was born in Shanghai in 1917 as Patricia Christine O'Kane, dau of Jeremiah O'Kane, of British Columbia, Canada, and married 23 Mar 1944, as his first wife, George Patrick John Rushworth Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe, son of the 1st Earl, Admiral of the Fleet, sometime C-in-C of the Grand Fleet in the First World War, who was given an earldom in 1925. The marriage, which produced 2 sons and 2 daughters, ended in divorce in 1966.

Countess Jellicoe is survived by her children. The elder son, Patrick, is the 3rd Earl.

-==-

Morwenna Torlesse (1937-2012)

Morwenna Torlesse, who died 14 March, 2012, aged 74, was a scion of the Prideaux-Brune landed family, seated at Prideaux Place, Padstow, Cornwall. She was born 21 March, 1937, elder daughter of Hugh Treverbyn Prideaux-Brune (b 14 Aug 1890), by his wife the former Elsie Honora Greenfield; married 1962, Charles David Torlesse, elder son of Rear Admiral Arthur David Torlesse, CB, DSO, by whom she had six children.

-==-

Major The 14th Lord Napier & Ettrick, KCVO (1930-2012)

Maj The 14th Lord Napier & Ettrick, KCVO, private secretary to HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon 1973-98, died 15 March, 2012. He was 81.

Francis Nigel Napier was b 5 Dec 1930, son of the 13th peer and succeeded to the family honours (peerage of Scotland; Barony in the peerage of the UK, and a baronetcy) on his father's demise, 1954.

He served in the Scots Guards, was equerry to Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and was appointed to Princess Margaret's household in 1973, as private secretary, comptroller and equerry.

He married in 1958, Delia Mary Pearson, a kinswoman of Princess Margaret (a descendant of the Bowes Lyons), by whom he had issue, 2 sons and 2 daughters. The peerages and baronetcy now devolve upon his elder son, Francis, Master of Napier, born 3 Nov 1962.

-==-

Hon Richard Temple Fisher (1930-2012)

The Hon Richard Temple Fisher, one of the six sons of the Most Rev & Rt Hon Geoffrey Fisher, sometime Archbishop of Canterbury, and later Baron Fisher of Lambeth, died 15 March, 2012, aged 82; he was born in Jan 1930; married Clare Le Fanu, by whom he had issue, a son, Paul, and a dau, Rosamond.

-==-

Salvesen/Elphinstone engagement

The engagement was announced 15 March, 2012 between Edmund Salvesen, son of Mr & Mrs Andrew Salvesen, of Torphins, Aberdeenshire, & (Mary) Abigail Elphinstone (b 1984),scion of the Elphinstone Baronets (cr Nova Scotia, 1701), daughter of Charles Elphinstone (b 1958),of Edzell, Angus, and Mrs Lucy Elphinstone (nee Reynolds), of Cold Ash, Berkshire, dau of Maj. M.D. Reynolds, of Barnstaple, Devon.

The bride-to-be is a granddaughter of Sir John Elphinstone of Glack, 11th Baronet.

-=-

Maj Nicholas Hales Pakenham Mahon (1926-2012)

Maj. Nicholas Hales Pakenham Mahon, who died at Cirencester, 12 March, 2012, aged 86, was a scion of the Barons (later Earls) of Longford. He was born 23 Feb 1926, the son of Wilfrid Stuart Atherstone Hales, afterwards Hales Pakenham Mahon, by his wife the former Olive Pakenham Mahon; married 1953, Jennifer, dau of Gordon Batten, by whom he leaves issue.

-==-

Jonathan James Kidston (1951-2012)

Jonathan James Kidston, who has died aged 62, was a grandson maternally of the the 4th Baron Manners (cr  UK, 1807) and was a scion of the landed family of Kidston of Redenham Park. He was born in 1949, second son of John Bonham Kidston by his wife the former Hon Patricia Anna Manners. He married in 1981, Joanna, dau of Colonel Michael Panton.


-==-

Pym/Taylor engagement

The engagement was announced 14 March 2012 between Benjamin Ruthven Pym (b 1979), scion of that landed family, son of the Hon Andrew Leslie Pym (b 30 Nov 1954), of Everton, Bedfordshire, by his wife the former, Ruth A. Skelton, and Anna L. Taylor, dau of Mr & Mrs Sidney Taylor, of Little Linton, Bedfordshire.

Benjamin Pym is a grandson of the late Rt Hon Francis Leslie Pym, Baron Pym, PC, MC (life peer) sometime Conservative MP and Foreign Secretary in the Thatcher Administration, &c.

-=-