4th Baron Ashcombe 1924-2013

_.The Baron Ashcombe, who died 4 December, 2013, aged 89, was an uncle of HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, and 4th Baron (Peerage of the UK, cr 1892). Henry Edward Cubitt was born 31 March, 1924, son of Roland Calvert Cubitt, 3rd Baron (1899-1962), by his 1st wife, the former Sonia Rosemary Keppel, OBE (1900-1986), scion of the Earls of Albemarle. The 3rd Baron's sister, Rosalind (1921-94), married Maj Bruce Shand, MC, and their daughter, Camilla married the heir to the throne in 2005. Lord Ashcombe was a grandson of Alice Keppel, the last of King Edward VII's mistresses. Henry Cubitt succeeded his father as 4th Baron, 28 Oct, 1962. He was thrice married. Firstly, in 1955 (div 1968) to the former Ghislaine Dresselhuys, former wife of the 6th Earl of Caledon (and she went on to marry the 8th Baron Foley); married 2ndly, 1973 (div 1979), the Hon Virginia Carington, daughter of the 6th Baron Carrington, KG; married 3rdly, 1979, the former Elizabeth Mary Chipps, and widow of Geoffrey Mark Dent-Brocklehurst, of Sudeley Castle (who descended from the Earls of Harewood). The peerage now passes to his second cousin, Mark Edward Cubitt, born 29 Feb, 1964, who is a great~grandson of the 2nd Baron Ashcombe. Mark Cubitt is married with sons. The funeral is to be held at Sudeley Castle, Gloucestershire, the home of his step~son Henry Dent-Brocklehurst. -=-

Nicholas Richard Robert Carew Pole (b 2013)

_.Rebecca Carew-Pole (nee Wood), wife since 2003, of John (Johnny) Alexander George Carew Pole, (b.1975), one-time Page of Honour to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, gave birth to a son, Nicholas Richard Robert, 16 Nov, 2013, a brother for Thomas Tremayne John, who was b 22 Feb, 2008, and for Daisy. Johnny Carew-Pole is the younger son of Sir Richard Carew Pole, 13th Baronet, & Lady Carew Pole (nee Dawnay, of the Viscounts Downe), of Antony, Cornwall, & Rebecca Wood is the only daughter of Mr and Mrs Robert Wood, of Kilsall, Shropshire. ========

Blofeld/Chianale marriage

.The marriage took place 3 Dec, 2013, between Henry Blofeld (b 23 Sept, 1939), cricket commentator, scion of that landed family, son of the late Thomas Robert Calthorpe Blofeld (1903-86), by his wife the former Grizel Blanche Turner (1903-92), & Valeria Chianale, Italian fashion designer. It is Mr Blofeld's third marriage. He was married 1stly, in 1961, to Joanna Hebeler; and 2ndly, in 1990, to Karin Pernet-Hansen. -=-

Shaw/Child Villiers engagement

_.The engagement was announced 4 Dec, 2013, between Mr Robert Shaw, son of Mr & Mrs Terence Shaw, of St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands, and the Lady Luciana Dorothea Sacha Child Villiers (born 1981), daughter of the late George, Viscount Villiers (1948-98), by his 2nd wife the former Sacha Jane Hooper Valpy (now Mrs Raymond Hubbard, of Landscove, Devon). The bride~to~be is a sister of the 10th Earl of Jersey (Peerage of England, cr 1697). -=-

Baroness Annan 1921-2013

_. The Baroness Annan, literary critic, who died 12 November, 2013, aged 91, was the widow of the Baron Annan (life peer), who died 21 Feb, 2000. She was the former Gabriele Ullstein, born 25 Nov, 1921, daughter of Louis Ferdinand Ullstein, of Berlin, and married the academic Noel Gilroy Annan (b 1916) in 1950. Her husband was created a life peer in 1965. She is survived by 2 daughters (the elder dau is married to a scion of the Barons Walsingham), &c. -=-

Twin sons for Lady Edward Manners

_.Lady Edward Manners (nee Gabrielle Elizabeth F. Ross, b 1975), wife of Lord Edward John Francis Manners (b 1965), scion of the Dukes of Rutland (Peerage of England cr 1703), gave birth to twin sons, Alfred Charles Nicholas and Vesey Peter Michael, 20 November, 2013. Lord Edward is a yr son of the late 10th Duke of Rutland, CBE (1919-99), of Belvoir Castle, by his 2nd wife the former Frances Helen Sweeny (b 1937), daughter of Charles Sweeny by his wife the former Margaret Whigham (afterwards Margaret, Duchess of Argyll), . Lady Edward is a daughter of Mr Peter F. Ross, of Chelsea, by his wife the former Marianne M. Alexander. -=-

Stoppard/Guinness engagement

According to the Mail on Sunday (Dec 1) Sir Tom Stoppard OM, CBE, FRLS (b 3 July, 1937), the playwright, is to marry Miss Sabrina Guinness (b 9 Jan, 1955), scion of the brewing/banking dynasty, daughter of the late James Edward Alexander Rundell Guinness (1924-2006), by his wife the former Pauline Vivien Mander. Sabrina's sister, Julia Samuel, is godmother of HRH Prince George of Cambridge, &c. -=-

Hon Venetia Ellice Cara Butler

_. The Viscountess Mountgarret, wife of Piers James Richard Butler, 18th Viscount Mountgarret (Peerage of Ireland, cr 1550) (b 15 Apr, 1961), gave birth to a daughter, the Hon Venetia Ellice Cara Butler, 25 September, 2013. Lord Mountgarret is the elder son of the late 17th Viscount (1936-2004), by his 1st wife the former Gillian Margaret Buckley (now Gillian, Baroness Howard De Walden), and the Viscountess Mountgarret is the former Fenella M. Fawcus, daughter of David Fawcus, and married the peer, as his 2nd wife, in 2006. Viscount Mountgarret has two daughters from his 1st marriage. -=-

Lady Llewellyn, OBE 1916-2013

_. Lady Llewellyn, OBE, head of the wartime Cabinet Office cypher officer, who died 26 November, 2013, aged 96, was the widow of Sir David Treharne Llewellyn (1916-92), sometime Conservative MP for Cardiff North, scion of the Llewellyn Baronets (cr 1922), of Bwllfa. She was the former Joan Anne Williams, born 24 Dec, 1916, dau of Robert Henry Williams, of Bonvilston House, near Cardiff, and married Sir David in 1950. Lady Llewellyn leaves issue, 2 sons and one daughter. -=-

Hon Michael James Leigh 1945-2013

_.The Hon Michael James Leigh, who died at Moreton~in~the~Marsh, 22 November, 2013, aged 68, was a scion of the Barons Leigh (Baron, UK, cr 1839). He was born 27 March, 1945, a younger son of Rupert, the 4th Baron (1908-79), of Stoneleigh, co Warwick, by his wife the former Anne Hicks Beach (who died 1977), scion of the Earls St Aldwyn, and was younger brother of the 5th Baron (1935-2003). He married in 1972 (div 1980) Cherry Rosalind Long-Price. -=-

Pollock/Burkhuch engagement

.The engagement was announced 29 November, 2013, between Frederick Thomas Charles (Freddy) Pollock (born 1988), scion of the Viscounts Hanworth (Peerage of the UK, cr 1936), twin son of the late Hon (Richard) Charles Pollock 1951-2005, by his wife the former Annette Louise Lockhart, of Long Melford, Suffolk, & Alex Burkhuch, eldest daughter of Mr & Mrs Nassif Burkhuch, of El Centro, California. -=-

Lady Innes of Edingight, wife of former Lord Lyon King of Arms dies

_.Lady Innes of Edingight, who died 22 November, 2013, was the wife of Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight, KCVO, FSA (b 25 May 1938), Lord Lyon King of Arms and Secretary of the Order of the Thistle 1981-2001, scion of the Innes Baronets of Balvenie (Bt, Novia Scotia, cr 1628). She was the former Joan Hay, only daughter of Thomas Hay, and married Sir Malcolm in 1963. She is survived by her husband and leaves issue. A Requiem Mass takes place at St Andrew's Church, Ravelston, Edinburgh, on Thurs 5 Dec, followed by interment at Marnoch, Aberdeenshire. -=-

Buckmaster/Murray engagement

_.The engagement was announced 28 Nov, 2013, between the Hon Andrew Nicholas Buckmaster (born 1980), scion of the Viscounts Buckmaster (Peerage of the UK, cr 1933) only son and heir of the 4th Viscount Buckmaster (b 2 Feb, 1949) by his wife the former Dr Elizabeth Mary Mark, & Dr Helen R. Murray, daughter of Dr and Mrs Steven Murray, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire. -=-

Rowley-Conwy/Burgess engagement

_.The engagement was announced 28 Nov, 2013, between Thomas Alexander Rowley-Conwy (b 20 March, 1987) scion of the Barons Langford (Peerage of Ireland, cr 1800) only son of the Hon Owain Grenville Rowley-Conwy (b 27 Dec 1958), by his former wife, the former Joanna Featherstone (now Mrs Joanna Bradford), of Bodhryddan, Dyserth, & Amy D. Burgess, daughter of Mr & Mrs Raymond Burgess, of Bath Street, Rhyll. Thomas's father is the heir to his father, the 9th Baron Langford, who was born 8 March, 1912. -=-

5th Baron Garvagh 1920-2013

_. The 5th Baron Garvagh (Peerage of Ireland, cr 1818), died in Kent, 31 October, 2013. He was aged 93. Alexander Leopold Ivor George Canning, kinsman of the 19th century Prime Minister George Canning, was born 6 Oct, 1920, son of the 4th Baron, JP, DL (1878-1956), by his second wife, the former Gladys Parker (d 1982) (the widow of Lt-Col John Dimmer, VC). He succeeded to the peerage, 16 July, 1956, on his father's demise. He married twice, firstly, 12 Jul, 1947 (div 1973), Edith Christine Cooper (who d. 29 Oct 2013), and secondly, in June 1974, Cynthia Pretty, dau of Eric Pretty, CMG. He leaves a son and two daughters from his first marriage, and the son, the Hon Spencer George Stratford de Redcliffe Canning, born 12 Feb, 1953, now succeeds as 6th Baron. -=-

The 4th Earl of Dudley 1920-2013

_. The Earl of Dudley (4th Earl in the Peerage of the UK, created 1860), died 16 November, 2013. He was 93. William Humble David Ward was born 5 January, 1920, son of the 3rd Earl of Dudley, by his first wife, Lady Rosemary Leveson-Gower, daughter of the 4th Duke of Sutherland. The Prince of Wales (afterwards King Edward VIII and Duke of Windsor) stood sponsor at his christening. His mother, who died as the result of an accident in 1930, had been widely suggested as a bride for the Prince. He married firstly, 10 June, 1946 (div 1961) Stella Carcano, daughter of the Argentine Ambassador to the Court of St James, Don Miguel Carcano, KCMG, KBE, by whom he had issue, one son, David, and two daughters, Rosemary and Anne-Marie; he married secondly, 24 Aug, 1961, the Rank starlet, Maureen Swanson (who died in Nov 2011), by whom he had a further 2 sons, William (deceased) and the Hon Leander Ward, born 30 Oct, 1971, and five daughters, Susanna, Melissa, Victoria, Amelia and Cressida. He succeeded his father as 4th Earl of Dudley, 26 Dec, 1969. The family honours now pass to the son from his first marriage, (William Humble) David Jeremy Ward, styled Viscount Ednam, who was born 27 March, 1947. The 5th Earl is the father of an only child, a daughter, Lady Bethany Rowena Ward, who was born in 1977. -=-

The 8th Baron Stanley of Alderley, 7th Baron Eddisbury and 8th Baron Sheffield 1927-2013

_. Thomas Henry Oliver Stanley, 8th Baron Stanley of Alderley, 7th Baron Eddisbury and 8th Baron Sheffield, died 19 November, 2013, at Rectory Farm, Stanton St John, Oxfordshire. He was 85. He was born 28 Dec, 1927, third son of Lt-Col Hon Oliver Hugh Stanley (1879-1952), by his wife the former Lady Alice Kathleen Violet Thynne (1891-1977), daughter of the 5th Marquess of Bath, and succeeded to the peerages, on the demise of his cousin, 23 June, 1971. The family honours ~ 8th Baron Sheffield, of Roscommon in the County of Roscommon (Ireland, let. pat. 20 Sep 1783); 8th Baron Stanley of Alderley, of Alderley in the County of Chester (United Kingdom, let. pat. 9 May 1839) 7th Baron Eddisbury, of Winnington in the County of Chester (United Kingdom, let. pat. 12 May 1848) 14th Baronet, styled "of Alderley, co. Chester" (England, let. pat. 25 Jun 1660). He married 30 Apr 1955 Jane Barrett Hartley, dau. of Ernest George Hartley, of Lower Farm, Milton-under-Wychwood, co. Oxford, by whom he had issue. The peerages and baronetcy pass to his eldest son, the Hon Richard Oliver Stanley, who was b 24 Apr, 1956. The new 9th Baron is married with three daughters (1 son deceased). -=-

The 6th Baron Monteagle of Brandon 1926-2013

_. Gerald Spring Rice, the 6th Baron Monteagle of Brandon (Peerage of the United Kingdon, cr 1839), died at Amesbury, 17 November, 2013. He was 87. He was born 5 July, 1926, son of the 5th Baron (1887-1946), by his wife the former Emilie de Kosenko (d 1981), and succeeded his father in the peerage, 9 Dec, 1946. He married 28 May, 1949, Anne, only dau of Col. Guy James Brownlow, by whom he had issue. Lord Monteagle of Brandon is succeeded by his only son, the Hon Charles James Spring Rice, who was born 24 Feb, 1953. Funeral at St Mary & St Melor, Amesbury, Tues 3rd Dec. -=-

The 8th Baron Plunket 1925-2013

_.The Lord Plunket, 8th Baron in the Peerage of the UK (cr 1827), died 16 November, 2013. He was 87. Robin Rathmore Plunket was born 3 Dec, 1925, a younger son of the 6th Baron (1899-1938), a great friend of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth, who died as the result of a plane crash, by his wife the former Dorothe Mabel Lewis (who died in the same accident as her husband). His elder sibling was Patrick, the 7th Baron, KCVO, the beloved deputy Master of the Household to the Queen, 1954-75, who died tragically early from cancer. He succeeded to the peerage on his bachelor brother's demise, 28 May, 1975. He married 8 Nov, 1951, Jennifer, second daughter of Bailey Southwell. No issue. The peerage now devolves upon his Lordship's nephew, Tyrone Shaun Terence Plunket, a former page of honour to Her Majesty, who was born 5 Feb, 1966. The funeral takes place at St Margaret's Church, Westminster, 5 Dec, 2013.

Mackintosh/Heng engagement

. The engagement was announced 19 November, 2013, between John Mackintosh of Mackintosh (The Mackintosh of Mackintosh), (b 1969) 31st Head of the Clan Mackintosh, son of the late Lt-Cdr Lachlan Ronald Duncan Mackintosh of Mackintosh, 30th Chief, RN, OBE, DL (b 27 June, 1928), of Moy, Tomatin, Inverness~shire, by his wife the former Mabel Cecilia Helen (Celia) Bruce (b 1939), scion of the Earls of Elgin and Kincardine (Earl, Peerage of Scotland, cr 1633), & Vanessa M. Heng, daughter of Mr & Mrs Jeffrey Heng, of Singapore. -=-