Murray/Gilbert engagement

_.The engagement was announced 30 May 2013 between Andrew Dalrymple Petrocokino Murray of Murraythwaite, yr, son of Mr and Mrs Anthony Murray of Murraythwaite, Dumfriesshire, and Arabella Katharine Elizabeth Gilbert, daughter of Mr and Mrs Geoffrey Gilbert, of Compton, Devon. -==-

Robert Henry Charles Vernède

-. Fiona Vernède (nee Bromet), wife of John M.Vernède, gave birth to a son, Robert Henry Charles, 25 May, 2013, a brother for Caroline. John is the son of Mr and Mrs Charles Vernède, of Hawkhurst, Kent, and Fiona is the youngest daughter of the late Mr John Bromet, of Wighill, North Yorkshire, by his wife the former Charlotte Imogen Woollcombe Bromet (nee Smith) b. 30 Aug 1943, daughter of Geoffrey Roy Holland Smith, of Oxton Hall, Tadcaster, (of the Tadcaster brewing family Samuel Smiths) by his wife Rosamond Margaret Stirling Woollcombe (of the landed family Woollcombe formerly of Ashbury). Fiona Vernède's brother, Edward Bromet, married the Hon Victoria Neville, fourth daughter of the 10th Baron Braybrooke, and a sister of the Countess of Derby, &c.

von Hof/Vernon engagement

_.The engagement was announced 29 May, 2013, between Mr Reinhart von Hof, son of the late Mr Norbert von Hof and Mrs Norbert von Hof, of Limavady, Co Londonderry, & Miss Emma Mary Vernon (b 1983), scion of the Barons Lyveden (Baron UK 1859), daughter of (Hugh) Richard Mervyn Vernon (b 1947), of Stairaird, Ayrshire, by his wife the former Hon Victoria Arthur (b 1946), daughter of the 3rd Baron Glenarthur, OBE (1909-1976) (Peerage of the UK, cr 1918). -=-

Elaine Felicia Straker (nee Peat)

_.Elaine Felicia Straker died 22 May, 2013, aged 86. She was a daughter of Charles Urie Peat (1892-1979), of Wycliffe Hall, Barnard Castle, Co Durham, by his wife the former Ruth Martha Pulley, and married 17 Jul, 1948, Hugh Charles Straker, RN (b 19 Oct 1926), of Caldwell, Richmond, North Yorkshire, scion of that landed family of Stagshaw, son of Hugh Alister Straker (b 1900) of Ponteland, Northumberland. Mrs Straker was the mother of 4 sons and 1 daughter. The funeral is at St Mary's Church, Wycliffe village, 7 June, 2013. Mrs Straker was a granddaughter of Sir William Barclay Peat, CVO -=-

Lord Terrington's heir to wed

_.The engagement was announced 29 May, 2013, between the Hon Jack Henry Lehmann Woodhouse (born 7 Dec, 1978), scion of the Barons Terrington (Peerage of the UK, cr 1918), son and heir of Professor the 6th Baron Terrington, MB, BS, FRCS (b 20 Sept, 1946), by his wife the former Hon Anna Philipps (b 1954), dau of the 3rd Baron Milford, & Miss Helena C. Bushman, daughter of Mr Richard Bushman, by his wife Harriet. -=-

Lady Margaret Fortescue 1923-2013

_.The Lady Margaret Fortescue, who died 25th May, 2013, aged 89, was a daughter of the 5th Earl Fortescue, KG, CB, OBE, MC, PC (1888-1958), (Ear; cr GB, 1789) by his wife the former Hon Margaret Helen Beaumont, CBE (1892-1958), dau of the 1st Viscount Allendale (Visc UK, cr 1911); she was born 13 Dec, 1923; married 1948 (div 1968) Bernard van Cutsem (b 1916, d 1975), head of that landed family, son of Henry Harcourt van Cutsem, by whom she had issue, 2 daughters, Eleanor (b 1949), wife of the 9th Earl of Arran, and Rosamund (b 1952). A Thanksgiving service takes place at St Paul's, Filleigh, 3 June. Both the Earl and Countess of Arran have lost their mother's in recent days. -=-

Morshead/Nicolson marriage

_.The marriage took place, 25 May, 2013, at St Peter's, Fraserburgh, between Charles Christopher Thomas Morshead (b 1981), elder son of Mr Samuel R. Morshead, of St Fillans, Perthshire and Mrs Annabelle C.E. Morshead (nee Bates), of Langley-on-Tyne, Northumberland, and Miss Louise Alexandra Patricia Nicolson (b. 1984), scion of the Lords Saltoun (Peerage of Scotland, cr 1445), elder daughter of Capt Mark Malise Nicolson, of Cairnbulg Castle, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, by his wife the Hon Katharine Ingrid Mary Isabel FRASER, Mistress of Saltoun (b 11 Oct, 1957). The bride is a granddaughter of the Lady Saltoun (a peeress in her own right), and the late Capt Alexander Arthur Alfonso David Maule Ramsay of Mar, and a great-granddaughter of HRH Princess Patricia of Connaught (afterwards Lady Patricia Ramsay), and a great-great granddaughter of HRH The Duke of Connaught, son of HM Queen Victoria, &c. -=-

Hewitt/Carr engagement

_.The engagement was announced 24 May, 2013, between Mr Dominic Hewitt (b 1980), son of Mr Geoffrey Hewitt, of Surrey, by his wife the former Jennifer J. Pettley (b 1946), & Miss Polly Catherine Alice Carr (born 1985), daughter Mr Francis Christopher (Fred) Carr, of London and Gloucestershire, by his wife the former Corinna Elizabeth Wake-Walker (b 1957), scion of the Walker Baronets, daughter of Lt-Cdr Cedric Collingwood Wake-Walker, RN (1923-2013), by his wife the former Margaret Iona Letitia Maclean (b 1928). -=-

Moritz Friedrich Karl Emanuel Humbert, Landgrave of Hesse 1926-2013

_. Moritz Friedrich Karl Emmanuel, The Landgrave of Hesse, a third cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, who died 23 May, 2013, aged 86, was head of the Royal House of Hesse. Born 6 Aug 1926, son of Philipp, Landgrave of Hesse (1896-1980), by his wife Princess Mafalda of Italy (1902-44), daughter of Vittorio Emanuele III, King of Italy; he was adopted by his cousin, Prince Ludwig of Hesse & By Rhine, 24 Dec, 1960; married 1964 (div 1974), Princess Tatiana zun Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (b 1940), by whom he had issue. He is succeeded as head of the Royal House of Hesse by his son, Heinrich, who was born 17 Oct 1966. -=-

Lt-Cdr Cedric Wake-Walker, RN 1923-2013

_.Lieutenant-Commander Cedric Collingwood Wake-Walker, RN, of Terwick, West Sussex, who died 22 May, 2013, aged 89, was a scion of the Walker Baronets of Oakley House (Bt, UK, cr 1856). He was born 23 Aug, 1923, a son of Admiral Sir (William) Frederic Wake-Walker, KCB, CBE (1888-1945) by his wife the former Muriel Elsie Hughes (d 1963), dau of Sir Collingwood Hughes, 10th Baronet (cr 1773); he married in 1949, Iona Maclean, dau of Capt John Cassilis Maclean, RN, by whom he had issue, a son and 2 daughters. Career:-->served in WWII, and in the Korean War, 1950-51 (despatches); Assistaqnt Gen Sec to the Comite International Radio Maritime, &c. His elder brother, Christopher, married in 1944, Lady Anne Spencer, daughter of the 7th Earl Spencer, and an aunt of Diana, Princess of Wales, &c. The funeral is at St Peter's Church, Terwick, 5 June. -=-

Zara Romilly Rose Mace

_. Alice Rachel Mace ((née Chadwyck-Healey, born 1977), wife of William N. Mace, and scion of the Chadwyck-Healey Baronets (Bt, UK, cr 1919), gave birth to a daughter, Zara Romilly Rose, 15 May, 2013, a sister for Monty Peregrine, was was born 28 Oct, 2010. William Mace is the elder son of Mr Daniel Mace, of Winterbourne Monkton, Wiltshire, and Mrs Marlie Mace, of Kinnerton, Radnorshire, and Alice is the elder daughter of Mr Peregrine Chadwyck-Healey (b 1950), of Calne, Wiltshire, by his wife the former Julia Mary Boughey, scion of the Boughey Baronets, and a cousin of Sarah Duchess of York. ==

Cameron/Maitland-Robinson engagement

_.The engagement was announced 23 May, 2013, between Hamish John Cameron (born 1985), scion of the Camerons of Lochiel, son of John Alastair Nigel Cameron (b 1954), of London, by his wife the former Julia Wurtzburg (now Mrs Julia Cameron, of Micheldever, Hampshire), and Joanna Alice Maitland-Robinson (b 1987), daughter of Aidan James Maitland-Robinson, of Wiltshire, by his wife the former Hon Susannah Jane Henderson (b 1963), daughter of the 3rd Baron Faringdon (b 1937). -=-

+ Margaret Fetherstonhaugh, of Kirkoswald

._Margaret Fetherstonhaugh, who died at her home, 18 May, 2013, aged 71, was the wife of Timothy Ross Fetherstonhaugh (b 19 Jan 1936), sometime High Sheriff of Cumbria, head of that landed gentry family of Kirkoswald, Cumbria. She was the mother of Tim and Jane. The funeral is at St Oswald's Church, Kirkoswald, 30 May. -=-

Gordon-Watson/Reardon marriage

_.The marriage took place in May, 2012 between Charles Patrick Gordon-Watson (b 17 Dec, 1959), descended from the Gordons of Boveridge Park, son of the late Brigadier David Michael Lindsay Gordon-Watson, OBE, MC (1913-2002), by his wife the former Thalia A.R. Gordon, of East Blagdon, Cranborne, Dorset & Katherine Genevieve (Kate) Reardon, editor of Tatler, only daughter of Mr Patrick Reardon, of Montgomery, Wales, and Mrs Humphrey Wood, of Roborough, Devon, and Parsons Green, London. Bloodstock agent Charlie Gordon-Watson is a first cousin of the Duchess of Beaufort, of Badminton, Avon. -=-

Buchanan/Evetts marriage

__.Miss Philippa Middleton, sister of the Duchess of Cambridge attended the marriage on Saturday 18 May, 2013, at Wherwell, Hampshire, between Mr Christopher Patrick E. Buchanan (born 1979), son of the late Mr Gray Hugo Buchanan (1948-2005) and Mrs Sarah Anne Buchanan (nee Hanbury, born 1950?), of Ellisfield, Hampshire, and Miss Verity Anne Evetts (born 1977), daughter of the late Michael J. Evetts and Mrs (Margarita )Susan S. Evetts (nee Wright), of Wherwell, Hampshire. Christopher Buchanan is a grandson of William Gavin Buchanan who married 1947 (div 1955) Diana Elizabeth Cunliffe-Owen (b 1 Aug 1928), dau of Sir Hugo Cunliffe-Owen,1st Baronet (Bt cr UK, 1920). I can locate a Sarah Anne Hanbury (b 15 Sept 1950), scion of the landed family of Hanbury of Kingston Maurward, dau Antony Hanbury, by his wife the former Elizabeth Anne Leatham, scion of that landed family. --=-

Fiona Countess of Arran, widow of the 8th Earl

_.Fiona Countess of Arran, who died at Castle Hill, Devon, 16 May, 2013, was the widow of the 8th Earl of Arran (1910-83). She was born Fiona Bryde Colquhoun, 1st daughter of Sir Ian Colquhoun of Luss, 7th Baronet, KT, DSO, by his wife the former Geraldine Bryde Tennant, and married 11 June, 1937, the Hon Arthur Strange Kattendyke Gore, younger son of the 6th Earl of Arran, KP, PC (1868- d 19 Dec 1958), by his 1st wife Baroness Maud Jacqueline Marie Beauclerk van Kattendyke (d 6 Mar 1927), who succeeded as 8th Earl of Arran on 28 Dec, 1958, his elder brother having enjoyed the family honours for 9 days. Her husband died 23 Feb, 1983. She leaves issue, including the 9th Earl of Arran, who was b 14 Jul 1938. Lady Arran's funeral takes place on Friday 24 May, 2013, at St Paul's Church, Filleigh, near South Molton, Exeter, Devon. -=-

Geoffrey Clive Howell Shakerley 1935-2013

__.Geoffrey Clive Howell Shakerley, who died 11 May, 2013, aged 77, was a scion of the Shakerley Baronets (Bt, UK, cr 1838), a kinsman of Sir Nicholas Shakerley,7th Bt. He was born in 1935, son of Colonel Peter Francis Shakerley, OBE (1906-94), by his wife Alison May (d 1992), dau of Alexander Sands. He married in 1965, Rosanna Ruth, dau of Thomas Barneby, of Duloe, Cornwall, by whom he had issue. Funeral at St Willow's Church, Lanteglos by Fowey, Cornwall, 23 May. -=-

Robert Horace Sebag-Montefiore c1921-2013

_.Robert Horace Sebag-Montefiore, who died at Dorchester, 10 May, 2013, aged 91, was a scion of the Sebag-Montefiore landed family, formerly of East Cliffe Lodge. He was born circa 1921, son of Capt William Sebag-Montefiore, MC (1885- ), by his second wife, the former Marguerite Maude Joseph, dau of Horace Joseph, of Montreal, Canada (and sister of Capt Sebag-Montefiore's 1st wife Sybil Matilda (who had d 11 Jun 1917). He was husband of Joan and father of David and Kate. The funeral is at Weymouth Crematorium, Thurs 23 May. -=-

Desmond Andrew John Hanbury-Tracy 1928-2013

_. (Desmond) Andrew John Hanbury-Tracy, who died 12 May, 2013, aged 84, was the third cousin and heir pres to the 7th Baron Sudeley (Baron UK, cr 1838). He was born 30 Nov, 1928, son of Maj Claud Edward Frederick Hanbury-Tracy-Domville (1904-87), who assumed by deed poll, 1961, the additional surname of Domville; by his 1st wife, the former Veronica Mary Cunard (d 1985) scion of the Cunard Baronets. He married 1stly, 1957 (div 1966) Jennifer Lynne, dau of Dr Richard Hodges; married 2ndly, 1967, Lilian, daughter of Nathaniel Laurie; married 3rdly, 1988, Mrs Margaret Cecilia White, daughter of Alfred Henry Marmaduke Purse. He had a son from his first marriage, and another son from the second. The elder son, Nicholas Edward John Hanbury-Tracy, born 13 Jan 1959 is now heir to Lord Sudeley, who was born 17 June, 1939. -=-

9th Earl of Shannon 1924-2013

_. The Earl of Shannon, who died at his home in Berkshire, 9 May, 2013, aged 88, was the 9th Earl in the Peerage of Ireland (created 1756), Viscount Boyle and Baron Castle Martyr, and was Baron Carleton in the Peerage of Gt Britain. He was the former husband of the TV announcer and actress Katie Boyle. Richard Bentinck Boyle was born 23 Oct, 1924, son of the 8th Earl of Shannon (1900-63), by his wife the former Marjorie Walker (d 1981), and succeeded to the family honours, 29 Dec, 1963. He married firstly, 1947 (div 1955) Donna Catherine Irene Helen (Katie Boyle), daughter of the Marchese Demetrio Imperiali di Francavilla; secondly, 1957 (div 1979), Susan Margaret Hogg (descended from the Marquesses of Lothian); and married 3rdly, 1994, Almine, dau of Rocco Catorsia de Villiers, of Cape Town, and had issue from the second marriage, one son and two daughters. He is succeeded in the peerages byb his only son, Richard Henry John, styled Viscount Boyle, who was born 19 January, 1960. The funeral is the be held at The Minster, Croydon, 21 May. -=-