Mary Rhys Jones

Mary Rhys-Jones (nee O'Sullivan), wife of Christopher Rhys Jones, and mother of HRH The Countess of Wessex, died 28 August, 2005. She was aged 71.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1755580,00.html
http://www.dehavilland.co.uk/webhost.asp?wci=default&wcp=NationalNewsStoryPage&ItemID=15031951&ServiceID=8&filterid=10&searchid=8
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=1861262005
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050829/w082926.html
Mary Rhys Jones was the mother of Sophie Helen (b. 1965) who married the third son of Queen Elizabeth II in June, 1999.
Mrs Rhys Jones died on Sunday after a short illness at a hospital, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said in a brief statement, adding that the Countess of Wessex was at her mother's bedside.
"The countess was at the hospital and is deeply saddened by the news," a palace spokeswoman said.
A private funeral service and thanksgiving service was being planned, but details were not immediately available.
Mrs Rhys-Jones also leaves a son David (b. 1963), a daughter-in-law, Zara, and three grandchildren, Oliver Hugh Rhys-Jones (b. 1999), Harry Christopher Rhys-Jones (b. 2000), and Lady Louise Windsor (b. 2003).
Mrs Rhys Jones's husband is descended from the Viscounts Molesworth.

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Elizabeth Anne Colvin

Elizabeth Anne Colvin, who died 19 August, 2005, aged 79, was the widow of Patrick Forrester John Colvin, lieutenant, the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers (b. 12 June, 1926; d. 26 April, 2002), scion of the Colvin family of Monkhams Hall, Essex, & a great-grandson of the 2nd Baron Rathdonnell. She was the yr daughter of Philip Sydney Marshall, MRCS, LRCP, of Wisborough Green, Sussex, and married 29 July, 1950. She is survived by 2 adopted children.

Source: Daily Telegraph 25 Aug 2005

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Dormer/Knight engagement

The engagement was announced 26 August, 2005, between Merlin Robert Colum Charles Dormer (b. 1963) scion of the Barons Dormer (created 1615) son of Michael Henry Stanhope Dormer (b. 1930), of Newbury, Berkshire, by his wife, the former Daphne Margaret Battine, & Georgina R. Knight, youngest daughter of Mr & Mrs Michael Knight, of Chilmark, Wiltshire.

Source: Daily Telegraph 26 August, 2005

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Howe/Hobart engagement

The engagement was announced 26 August, 2005, between Tom R.P. Howe, son of Mr & Mrs Peter Howe, of Barnes, London, & Sophie Camilla Hobart (b. 1978), elder daughter of Robert Henry (Rob) Hobart (b. 1948), of Kensington, and Gatcombe Mill, Isle of Wight, scion of the Hobart Baronets (created in 1914), by his wife Una-Mary Diana Parker, scion of the Earls of Macclesfield, and kinswoman of Andrew Parker Bowles.
Sophie's uncle, Sir John Vere Hobart, 4th Baronet, is heir presumptive to the Earldom of Buckinghamshire.

Source: The Times 26 August, 2005

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Coke/Brenninkmeijer engagement

The engagement was announced 25 Aug 2005, between Robert H. D'Ewes Coke (scion of the BLG family of Coke of Brookhill) elder son of Colonel and Mrs John Coke, of Fordingbridge, Hampshire, & Cécile, younger daughter of Mr & Mrs Alphons Brenninkmeijer, of Brussels.

NB: The bride-to-be is a scion of the wealthy family - founders of the C&A stores empire. A kinswoman, Millie Brenninkmeijer, is the second wife of Nicholas Wentworth-Stanley (descended from the Earls of Erne).

Source: Daily Telegraph 25 August, 2005

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Fletcher Gervase Edgar Elliott

Nicola Jane Elliott (nee Drake-Brockman), scion of that BLG family, wife of Dominic Michael Elliott, gave birth to a son, Fletcher Gervase Edgar, 27 July, 2005.
Dominic is the yst son of Mr D.W.M. Elliott and Mrs N.M. Elliott, and Nicola is a daughter of Mr & Mrs G.A. Drake-Brockman.

Source: Daily Telegraph 25 Aug 2005

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Lord Fitt (1926-2005)

The Lord Fitt, a life peer, one of Northern Ireland's fiercest critics of the IRA and the first leader of the SDLP, died 26 August, 2005, at the age of 79.
Gerard (known as Gerry) Fitt, was born 9 April, 1926, the son of George Patrick Fitt, by his wife Mary Anne, and was educated at the Christian Brothers' School, Belfast.
Career: - - ->>Merchant seaman, 1941-53; Councillor later Alderman, Belfast Corporation, 1958-81; MP [Eire Lab] Parliament of Northern Ireland, Dock Division of Belfast, 1962-72; Member [SDLP] N. Belfast, Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973-75, Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention, 1975-76; Deputy Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Executive, 1974; elected MP [Republic, Lab] Belfast West, 1966; a founder and Leader, Social Democratic and Labour Party, and MP [SDLP], 1970-79, when he resigned the leadership; MP [Socialist] 1979-83; created a life peer as Baron Fitt, of Bell's Hill, in the County of Down, 1983.
Gerry Fitt married in 1947, Susan Gertrude Doherty, by whom he had six daughters, of whom one is deceased. Baroness Fitt died in 1996.

Source: Daily Express 27 Aug 2005

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Gay Stafford (1929-2005)

Gay Stafford (nee Ramsay-Steel-Maitland) who died at Sauchieburn, Stirling, Scotland, 20 August, 2005, was born in 1929, daughter of Sir (Arthur) James Drummond Ramsay-Steel-Maitland, 2nd Baronet (who died in 1960). She married in 1949, Lieutenant-Commander Roger Martin Stafford, RN, who died in 1990.
The funeral is to be held at Falkirk Crematorium, Camelon, Falkirk, 26 Aug 2005.

Source: Daily Telegraph 24 August, 2005

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Sebastian James Clarry Sawrey-Cookson

Lucy Sawrey-Cookson (nee Brown) wife of Toby Sawrey-Cookson, scion of the BLG family of Sawrey-Cookson of Neasham Hall & Broughton Tower, gave birth to a son, Sebastian James Clarry, at Normandy, France, 22 August, 2005, a brother for George & Rosie

Source: Daily Telegraph 24 August 2005


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García Falcón/Douglas-Pennant engagement

The engagement was announced 24 August, 2005, between Señor Manolo García Falcón, eldest son of Señor Manuel García Jiménez and Señora Dolores Falcón Algaba, of Seville, Spain, and Camilla Faith (Milly) Douglas-Pennant (b. 1981), scion of the Barons Penrhyn (cr. 1866), daughter of Philip Morton [Paddy] Douglas-Pennant (b. 1947), of Tisbury House, Tisbury, Salisbury, Wiltshire, by his wife the former Sarah Frances Jane Coaker.

Source: Daily Telegraph 24 August, 2005

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Michael Cosmo Bonsor (1926-2005)

Michael Cosmo Bonsor, b. 1926, scion of the Bonsor Baronets (Cr. 1925), son of Robert Cecil Bonsor, MC (1880-1932), by his wife, the former Enid Lawrence, [and grandson of Sir Henry Cosmo Orme Bonsor, 1st Baronet, a Conservative MP and Director of the Bank of England]; Michael was educated at Eton; served as Lieutenant, Grenadier Guards, 1944-47; married 1951, Ann Marie, daughter of Marcus Wallenberg, by whom he had issue; died 20 August, 2005. The funeral is at All Saints Church, Soulbury, Friday 26 Aug 2005.

Source: Daily Telegraph 23 August, 2005

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Hugh John Chetwynd (1942-2005)

John Hugh Chetwynd, b. 1942, grandson paternally of the 8th Viscount Chetwynd, son of the Hon. John Julian Chetwynd (1906-66), by his wife Margaret Agnes (d. 1993), daughter of Maj-Gen. Hugh Clement Sutton, CB, CMG (of the Sutton Baronets); married 3 times - (i) 1966 (div 1971), Denyse Jacqueline de Frisching, of Berne, Switzerand; (ii) 1973 (div 1977), Caroline Fitzwilliams; (iii) 1983, Mrs Lorna Butler (nee Menzies), and had issue from his first and 3rd marriages; died 20 Aug, 2005.The funeral takes place at Holy Cross Church, Binstead, Hampshire, 25 Aug, 2005.

Source: The Times 23 Aug 2005

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Geoffrey David Wentworth-Stanley (1924-2005)

(Geoffrey) David Wentworth-Stanley, who died 18 August, 2005, aged 81, was a member of the Burke's Landed Gentry family of Wentworth-Stanley of High Wych.
He was born 28 May, 1924, 3rd son of Charles Sidney Bowen Wentworth-Stanley, CBE (1892-1960), of High Wych Grange (head of the family), by his first wife, Edith Katharine Brocklebank (scion of the Brocklebank Baronets), and was educated at Eton.
Career: -->> served in World War II as a lieutenant with the 9th Lancers, 1944-47; member of White's and Buck's Clubs and the MCC; landowner, of Great Munden House, Ware, Hertfordshire, &c.
He married 1 March, 1951, Bridget (b. 1926), eldest daughter of the late Maj. Philip Ivan Pease (d. 1964, of that BLG family), by his wife Doris Madeline Crichton (b. 1904), scion of the Earls of Erne.
He is survived by his wife and issue:-
(i) [David] Michael, b. 1952, married to Jane Hall (descended from the Marquesses of Dufferin & Ava) (ii) Nicholas Philip, b. 1954 (his 1st wife, Clare Steel, is now wife of the 4th Marquess of Milford Haven) (iii) Christopher James, b. 1962. (iv) Adrian, b. 1965
A Service of Thanksgiving takes place at All Saints Church, Little Munden, Hertfordshire, 7 September, 2005.

Source: Daily Telegraph 23 Aug 2005

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Lane Fox/Townley engagement

The engagement was annouced 23 August, 2005, between Charlie J. Lane Fox, son of Mr Edward James Lane Fox (b. 1939), of that BLG family, and Mrs Lane Fox, of Caulcott, Oxfordshire, & Christine E. Townley, daughter of Mr & Mrs Vernon Townley, of Overland Park, Kansas City, United States.

Source: Daily Telegraph 23 Aug 2005

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Albert Vincent Horatio Walpole

Eleanor Walpole (nee Hawkes), wife since 2000 of the Hon. Benedict Thomas Orford Walpole, (b. 1969), younger son of the 10th Baron Walpole and the late Judith Chaplin, MP, gave birth to a son, Albert Vincent Horatio, 27 July, 2005, a brother for Thomas, who was born 10 July, 2003.

Source: Daily Telegraph 23 Aug 2005

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Oliver William Fox-Pitt

Alice Fox-Pitt (nee Plunkett) wife of William S.L. Fox-Pitt, gave birth to a son, Oliver William, at the Dorset County Hospital, 19 August, 2005.

William is the son of Mr and Mrs Oliver Fox-Pitt, and Alice is the daughter of Mr and Mrs David Plunkett.

Source: The Times 23 Aug 2005

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Lord Lane, PC (1918-2005)

The Lord Lane, PC, AFC, Lord Chief Justice of England, 1980-92, died 22 August, 2005. He was aged 87.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1554417,00.html
http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0823/lordlane.html
He was born Geoffrey Dawson Lane, 17 July, 1918, the son of Percy Albert Lane, of Lincoln, by his wife Mary Dawson, and was educated at Shrewsbury; Trinity College, Cambridge (Hon. Fellow, 1981).
Career: - - - ->>>served in the Royal Air Force, 1939-45 [awarded the AFC, 1943]; Called to the Bar at Gray's Inn, 1946, Bencher, 1966; QC 1962; Deputy Chairman, Bedfordshire Quarter Sessions, 1960-66; Recorder of Bedford, 1963-66; a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division, 1966-74; a Lord Justice of Appeal, 1974-79; a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, 1979-80; Member of the Parole Board, 1970-72 [Vice-Chairman, 1972]; Hon. Bencher of the Inner Temple, 1980; &c.
He was knighted in 1966; sworn of the Privy Council in 1974; created a life peer as Baron Lane, of St. Ippollitts, 1979.
He married in 1944, Jan, daughter of Donald MacDonald, b whom he had one son.

Source: The Times 24 August, 2005

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Sir Simon Codrington, 3rd Baronet (1923-2005)

Sir Simon Codrington, 3rd Baronet, who died at Frenchay Hospital, 17 August, 2005, aged 82, was the owner of Dodington House, Chipping Sodbury, near Bristol, the 18th century family seat which ranks in the top 10 of English stately homes, set in a Capability Brown park.

Sir Simon had a colourful marital career - much discussed in the tabloid press in the 1970s and 80s. Simon Francis Bethell Codrington was born 14 August, 1923, son of Sir Christopher Codrington, 2nd Baronet, by his wife, the former Joan Mary Hague-Cook (who died in 1961). He was educated at Eton.

Career:--->>Lieutenant Coldstream Guards; landowner (the family have lived at Dodington since the reign of Queen Elizabeth I); succeeded his father in the baronetcy (created in 1876) in 1979.

He married firstly, in 1947, Joanne (divorced 1959), daughter of J.W. Molineaux, and widow of William Humphrey Austin Thompson; married 2ndly, 1959, Pamela Joy Halliday Wise (divorced 1979); it was frightful bad luck for the second wife. She missed becoming Lady Codrington by one day. Her divorce became absolute just 24 hours before Codrington became Sir Simon on the demise of his father. Pamela Codrington refused to quit the stately home and retained hold on the big house whilst Sir Simon and his 3rd bride were reduced to living at the dower hosue on the 1,000 acre estate. Sir Simon married 3rdly, at Chipping Sodbury register office, 4 January, 1980 (divorced 3 Aug 1987) to Mrs Sarah Gwynne Gaze (nee Pennell). The tabloids oft referred to the 3rd Lady Codrington as a _descendant of Nell Gwynne_. Never a mention of Charles II. was she perhaps descended from Nell, if at all, from another liaison? Sir Simon married 4thly, in 1989, Shirley Ann, daughter of Percival Davis.

He is survived by his fourth spouse and three sons, Christopher, Bethell, and Hugo, from his second marriage. The eldest boy, Christopher George Wayne Codrington, b. 20 Feb, 1960, now succeeds to the baronetcy.

A Thanksgiving Service takes place at St Peter's, Wapley, Gloucestershire, 25 August, 2005.

Sources: Daily Telegraph 22 August, 2005; Daily Express 15 Nov, 1979; Daily Mail 22 Nov, 1979; Yorkshire Post 4 Aug, 1987.

Duncombe/Garutti marriage

The marriage took place 17 August, 2005, at Havana, Cuba, between the Hon. Jake Barnaby Duncombe (b. 1972) second son of the 6th Baron Feversham (b. 1945), of Duncombe Park, Helmsley, North Yorkshire, by his first wife, Shannon (d. 1976), daughter of Sir Thomas Foy, CSI, CIE; & Miss Rafaella Garruti, daughter of Signor and Signora Tiziano Garutti, of Ferrara, Italy.

Source: The Times 22 August, 2005

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Lady Beit (1915-2005)

Lady Beit, who died in London, 17 August, 2005, aged 89, was the widow of the multi-millionaire philanthropist, Sir Alfred Beit, 2nd & last Baronet. Lady Beit was chatelaine of Russborough, a magnificent Palladian mansion near Dublin.
http://www.artscouncil.ie/news/press212.htm
In 1947 the Beits sold their London town house at 15 Kensington Palace Gardens ("Millionaires Row"), which Sir Alfred had acquired just before WW2, to the government of Iraq.
Lady Beit and her husband were exceptionally generous patrons of the arts in Ireland. In 1952 they bought Russborough House in Wicklow to house the spectacular Beit Art Collection.
The Beits established the Beit Foundation in 1976 to manage their 18th century Palladian mansion and the art collection housed within. They subsequently presented both to the Irish nation.
Their munificence was recognised in 1993, when Mary Robinson, President of Eire, made them honorary Irish citizens.
The Beits sustained two burglaries at their home - the first in 1974, was led by the former debutante, Oxonian and IRA sympathiser Rose Dugdale; the gang assaulted the Beits and made off with 19 paintings including a Goya and a Vermeer. The works of art were recovered within a month.
In 1986 thieves struck again, this time stealing 18 paintings valued at $45million - at that time the most lucrative art robbery ever. A Velasquez subsequently turned up in Turkey and in 1992 the Gainsborough portrait of _Madame Baccelli_ was found by police in a van near Euston station.
Lady Beit was born posthumously, 22 Oct, 1915, scion of the Barons Redesdale, second daughter of Major the Hon. Clement Bertram Mitford, DSO (1876-1915), by his wife the former Lady Helen Alice Wylington Ogilvy, second daughter of the 8th Earl of Airlie.
Clementine was a cousin of the famous Mitford sisters; her father, not theirs, would have become the 2nd Baron Redesdale if he had not been killed in the First World War in May, 1915.
She married Sir Alfred in 1939 at Northaw, near Potters Bar. Her husband was a nephew of one of the great South African "Randlords" - another Alfred Beit, who was born in Hamburg in 1853.
Although Lutheranised in religion, the family was of Sephardic Jewish origin. The first Alfred Beit went out to South Africa at 17, just as the Kimberley diamond fields had been opened up. Within 20 years the diamond mines and trade had been entirely brought under the control of the De Beers company, itself effectively owned by Cecil Rhodes, Barney Barnato and Beit, who was the true financial genius of the group.
In their palmy days Sir Alfred and Lady Beit were known as the most handsome couple in London society. Her husband succeeded to the baronetcy in 1930. There were no children of the marriage, and Sir Alfred died in Ireland, 12 May, 1994, aged 91.
The funeral takes place at St Peter's, Eaton Square, London SW1, 30 August, 2005.

Sources: Daily Telegraph 22 Aug, 2005; Daily Telegraph 14 May, 1994; The Times, 14 May, 1994.