Monty Jack Westropp-Rutter (born 2024)

Marina Monica (Mimi) Rutter (nee Westropp, born 22 Dec, 1993), wife of George Edward W. Rutter [born 1993], gave birth to a son, Monty Jack Westropp-Rutter, 31 March, 2024.

Mimi Rutter is a scion of the Westropp landed gentry family, daughter of Anthony Henry [Harry] Westropp [born 22 December, 1944], of Goadby Marwood, Leicestershire, and his wife the Hon Victoria Monica Watson [born 7 May, 1958], daughter of the late 3rd Baron Manton [1924-2003].

George Rutter is a son of Paul Stuart Rutter [born 1967], of Leadhall Drive, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, and his wife the former Karen Steel. 

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Lord Clinton, 22nd Baron 1934-2024

 Lord Clinton, the 22nd Baron, JP, DL, holder of one of England's oldest peerages, died 2 April, 2024, aged 89. He was the largest landowner in Devon.

Gordonstoun educated Lord Clinton, who took his seat in the House of Lords in 1965, was a member of the Prince of Wales's Council 1968-79, a JP for Bideford 1963-83, and a deputy Lieutenant of Devon from 1977.

Lord Clinton was seated at Heanton Satchville a historic manor near Okehampton, North Devon. With origins in the Domesday manor of Hantone, it was first recorded as belonging to the Yeo family in the mid-14th century and was then owned successively by the Rolle, Walpole and Trefusis families. The mansion house was destroyed by fire in 1795. In 1812 Lord Clinton purchased the manor and mansion of nearby Huish, renamed it Heanton Satchville, and made it his seat. The nearly-forgotten house was featured in the 2005 edition of Rosemary Lauder's "Vanished Houses of North Devon".

Lord Clinton was born Gerard Nevile Mark Fane, 7 October, 1934, the only son of Capt Charles Nevile Fane (1911-1940), and his wife the former Gladys Mabel Lowther; and was a grandson of the Hon Hon Harriet Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis (1887-1958), the elder daughter and co-heir of the 21st Baron Clinton, GCVO, PC, JP, DL (1863-1957); and he succeeded to the barony (created in 1298/99) on the termination of the abeyance of the peerage, 18 March, 1965.

Lord Clinton assumed the additional surname of Trefusis in addition to his patronymic, in 1958.

He married 18 July, 1959, Nicola Harriette Purdon Coote (born 6 January, 1937), eldest of the five daughters of Major Charles Robert Purdon Coote (1875-1954), of Ballyclough Castle and Bearforst, County Cork, by his wife the former Noel Margaret Jephson Stracey (1908-2009), scion of the Stracey baronets, by whom he had issue, a son, Charles, and two daughters, Caroline (born 23 May, 1960), and Henrietta (born 31 Jan, 1964.)

The son, the Hon Charles Patrick Rolle Fane Trefusis (born 21 March, 1962), now succeeds as 23rd Baron Clinton.

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James Sammy Chadwick Davis-Goff 1989-2024

 James Sammy Chadwick Davis-Goff, who died in a helicopter crash in the Swiss Alps, 2 April, 2024, aged 34, was a scion of the Davis-Goff baronets.

 'Jimmy Goff' was among three people who died in the crash. Davis-Goff, pilot Jerome Lovey and ski guide Adam George were killed when their Air-Glaciers B3 type helicopter was hit by an avalanche while on the summit of the Petit Combin mountain in southern Switzerland. They were due to go “heli-skiing”, which involves being dropped off by a helicopter at the top of a mountain. The helicopter was carried away off a steep slope and plunged 500 metres down the mountain before coming to a stop. Three passengers survived the fall: Edward Courage and brothers Teddy and Guy Hitchens.

James Davis-Goff was born in 1989, third son of Sir Robert William Davis-Goff, 4th Baronet (born 12 September, 1955), and his wife the former Nathalie Sheelagh Chadwick. 

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Sir William Mark Charles Garthwaite, 3rd Baronet

  Sir Mark Garthwaite, 3rd Baronet, died 23 March, 2024. He was 77.

Sir Mark was educated at Gordonstoun and the University of Pennsylvania (BSc)

William Mark Charles Garthwaite was born 4 November, 1946, son of Sir William Francis Cuthbert Garthwaite, 2nd Baronet, DSC (1906-1993), and his 2nd wife the former Patricia Beatrice Eden Neate (1916-2002); and succeeded to the baronetcy (cr UK, 1919), on his father's death, 15 December, 1993.

He married in 1979, Victoria Lisette (Vicki) Tuzo (born 1952), the only child of General Sir Harry Crauford Tuzo, GCB, OBE, MC (1917-1998), by whom he had issue, a son, William (born 14 May, 1982), and two daughters, Rosie Francesca (born 1980), a journalist, and Jemima Victoria (born 1984).

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Charles Alexander Nicholas Clifford (born 2024)

The Hon Mrs Alexander Clifford, wife of Lord Clifford of Chudleigh's heir, the Hon Alexander Clifford, gave birth to a son, Charles Alexander Nicholas, 12 January, 2024.

Mrs Clifford is the former Lucy Jane Lenygon (born 1986), daughter of Mr Nicholas J. Lenygon (born 1954) and Mrs Sarah J. Lenygon (nee Murray).

Alexander Clifford (born 24 September, 1985), is the elder son and heir of the 14th Baron Clifford of Chuldeigh (b 17 Mar, 1948) (Peerage of England, cr 1672), of Ugbrooke Park, Chudleigh, Devon, by his former wife (Muriel) Suzanne Austin. 

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Hon Rosemary Ethel Coupar Maitland 1931-2024

 The Hon Rosemary 'Romaire' Maitland, who died 27 March, 2024, aged 93, was the last surviving daughter of the 1st (and last) Baron Abertay, KBE, JP, DL (1875-1940).

She was born Rosemary Ethel Coupar Barrie in 1931, middle daughter of the 1st Baron Abertay and his wife the former Ethel Broom, and married 1952, John Stuart Maitland (who died 2008), by whom she had issue, three sons and one daughter.

The barony of Abertay became extinct with her father's death, 6 Dec, 1940.

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Harry Alexander Lowe (born 2024)

  Clementine Mary R. Lowe (born 1991, née Francklin), wife of Frederick James Lowe (born 1991), gave birth to a son, Harry Alexander, 12 March, 2024.

Clementine Lowe is a daughter of William Alexander Mavourn Francklin (born 1958), scion of that landed gentry family, and his wife the former Celina Lucinda Palmer (born 15 May, 1961), scion of the Palmer baronets, daughter of Sir Geoffrey Christopher John Palmer, 12th Baronet (born 30 June, 1936).

Fred Lowe is descended from the Baker baronets:-

Sir George Edward Dunstan Sherston Baker, 4th Baronet > Henrietta Baker > Michael Chapman > Nicola Chapman > Fred Lowe

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Clover Coco Bewley Macpherson (born 2024)

 Rosie Jean B. Macpherson [née Atkinson, born 1989], wife of Charles Edward Ian Macpherson [born 1989], gave birth to a daughter, Clover Coco Bewley, 25 March, 2024, a sister for Milo (born 2020), and Albie (born 2022).

Rosie is a daughter of Nigel Atkinson. Charles Macpherson is a son of Nigel Charles Blake Macpherson, and his wife the former Georgina Lily Fleur Mountain [born 1 Aug, 1959], scion of the Mountain baronets, daughter of Sir Denis Mountain, 3rd Baronet [1929-2005].

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Major Michael Thomas Noel Hamilton Wills, LVO 1940-2024

Major Tom Wills, Coldstream Guards, scion of the Wills baronets, died 20 March, 2024. He was 83.

He was owner of Miserden Park, a grand Jacobean manor with expansive, intricately laid out grounds near Stroud in Gloucestershire. He was High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1985, and appointed Exon HM Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard in 1993

He was born 31 May, 1940, (twin with a brother Frederick), a son of Major Michael Desmond Hamilton Wills, MC (1915-1943), Coldstream Guards, and his wife Mary Margaret Mitford (1916-2006), scion of that landed gentry family. His mother married 2ndly, 1947, Colonel Sir Martin St John Valentine Gibbs, KCVO, CB, DSO (1917-1992, of The Manor House, Ewen, near Cirencester.

Wills married in 1982 (div 1992), Penelope Howard-Baker (born 1953), daughter of Benjamin Howard-Baker, of Glascoed Hall, Llansilin, Shropshire, by his wife the former Ann Layfield, by whom he had issue, a son, Nicholas James Noel Hamilton Wills (born 1983), now of Miderden, and a daughter, Camilla Jane Hamilton Wills (born 1985).

Miserden was built in the early 17th century by the Sandys family. The natural scenery of Miserden, where it’s situated, is spectacular: its gardens overlook the River Frome and a deer park, while its grounds incorporate woodland and farmland. This magical, multifaceted estate in a Cotswolds hamlet, also called Miserden, has evolved gradually as successive owners have left their mark on it.

In the 1920s, Edwin Lutyens made a significant contribution to Miserden, which scooped the Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award in 2018; this has been presented annually since 1984 and is sponsored by Christie’s. In 1919, (Frederick) Noel Hamilton Wills (1887-1927), (grandfather of Maj Tom), bought the property in 1913 — and commissioned Lutyens to design a new east wing with an arched loggia after the house was badly damaged by a fire. He also created a loggia and a striking topiary yew walk featuring crenellations echoing those of the loggia.

It seems to run in the Wills family to be green-fingered. Tom Wills, a grandson of Noel and his wife the former Margery Fraser moved into the estate after his grandmother died in 1980 and devoted himself for 40 years to maintaining her legacy, while making his own additions, largely inspired by his passion for trees and forestry. In 2013, he planted a circle of lime trees opposite the house to mark the centenary of the Wills family owning Miserden. He also established its arboretum, planting about 75 per cent of its trees.

Maj Tom Wills was appointed LVO by Queen Elizabeth II.

 A private funeral for family and those of Miserden village, by invitation, will be held on Wednesday 10 April, 2024. There will be a Memorial Service at the Parish Church of St John Baptist, Cirencester on Wednesday 15 May, 2024.

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Elisabeth, Baroness Amherst of Hackney 1943-2024

 Elisabeth, Baroness Amherst of Hackney, who died 18 March, 2024, aged 80, was the widow of the 4th Baron Amherst of Hackney.

She was born in 1943, a daughter of Hugh Humphrey Merriman, DSO, MC, TD (1910-1983), of Letts Green, Knockholt, Kent, and his wife the former Anne Margaret Holden Illingworth (1914-1998), scion of that landed gentry family; and married 30 March, 1965, the then Hon William Hugh Amherst Cecil (born 28 December, 1940), son and heir of Major the 3rd Baron Amherst of Hackney, CBE (1912-80), and his wife the former Margaret Eirene Clifton Brown (1921-2009). Her husband succeeded his father as 4th Baron, 22 July, 1980, and died 2 April, 2009.

Lady Amherst of Hackney leaves issue, a son, William, the 5th Baron (born 17 July, 1968), and a daughter the Hon Aurelia (who was born 19 July, 1966).

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Lady Anne Elizabeth Grania Phipps 1965-2024

 The Lady Anne Elizabeth Grania Phipps, who died 18 March, 2024, aged 58, was the seventh and youngest child of the 4th Marquis of Normanby, KG, CBE (1912-1994), of Mulgrave Castle, Whitby, by his wife the former Hon Grania Maeve Rosura Guinness, OBE (1920-2018), scion of the Barons Moyne.

She was unmarried. The funeral Service and Interment take place on Thursday 4th April 2024, at St Oswald's Church, Lythe, Whitby, North Yorkshire.

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(Helen) Vernon Bruce 1927-2024

 (Helen) Vernon Wallop Bruce, who has died aged 96, was a scion of the Earls of Portsmouth.

She was born 16 December, 1927, the second daughter of Vice-Admiral Sir Peveril Barton Reibey William-Powlett, KCB, KCMG, CBE, DSO (1898-1985), and his wife Helen Constance Forbes Crombie (1903-1965); and married 17 May, 1951, Lieutenant-Commander Henry Victor Bruce of Salloch, RN, DL (1924-2011), a scion of the Earls of Elgin & Kincardine, eldest son of Capt the Hon John Bernard Bruce, RN (1892-1971), and his wife the former Helen Rachel Rawstorne (who died 1983), by whom she had issue, two sons, Peveril John Bruce of Salloch (born 6 Oct, 1953), and Maj-Gen Alastair Andrew Bernard Reibey Bruce of Crionaich, OBE, Governor of Edinburgh Castle, journalist, TV correspondent and herald (born 25 June, 1960), and two daughters, Robina Helen (born 27 May, 1952), and Lucinda Jane (born 1 January, 1956).

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Husmann/Cooke-Yarborough engagement

 The engagement was announced 23 March, 2024, between Hans Husmann, only son of Mr and Mrs Uwe W Husmann of Hansestadt Stralsund, Western Pomerania, Germany, and Eliza Flora Cooke-Yarborough (born 1993), elder daughter of Sir Anthony Edmund Cooke-Yarborough, 13th Baronet (born 6 August, 1956), of Barford St Michael, Oxfordshire, and his wife the former Joanna Susan Northrop (born 1957).

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Wills/Thompson engagement

 The engagement was announced 23 March, 2024, between George Edmund Hamilton Wills (born 1993), scion of the Barons Dulverton, second son of Christopher Aubrey Hamilton Wills (born 21 February, 1953), of Litchfield, Hampshire, and his wife the Lady Katharine Anne Meade (born 10 Aug, 1959), scion of the Earls of Clanwilliam, & Emma V.B. Thompson, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Michael Gavin Thompson, of Wadhurst, East Sussex.

George Wills is a grandson maternally of the late 6th Earl of Clanwilliam (1914-1989).

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Erskine-Hill/Connell engagement

 The marriage took place, 2 March, 2024, between Robert Benjamin (Ben) Erskine-Hill (born 6 August, 1986), son and heir of Sir Alexander Roger Erskine-Hill of Quothquhan, 3rd Baronet (born 15 Aug, 1949), of Blairgowrie, Perthshire, and his wife the former Sarah Anne Sydenham Clarke, & Rebecca Dominique Connell (born 1988).

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Lord Vivian engaged to Saweda Kamara

 The engagement was announced 21 March, 2024, between Charles Crespigny Hussey Vivian, 7th Baron Vivian (born 20 December, 1966), son of the late 6th Baron Vivian (1935-2004), and his first wife the former Catherine Joyce Hope (born 1939), scion of that landed gentry family, & Saweda Kamara, only daughter of the late Mr Alex Kamara and Mrs Jeanette Eccles-James (née Smythe-Macaulay), of Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Lord Vivian is the 7th Baron (Peerage of the UK, cr 1841), and a Baronet (cr 1828). His mother married secondly, as his 2nd wife, 5 June, 1972, the 8th Earl of Mexborough (born 16 May, 1931).

Lord Vivian married firstly in 2011 (div), Mrs M. Elizabeth Wimpress, daughter of Gregory Vatterott of St Louis, Missouri, USA. He has no children, and the heir presumptive to his peerage and baronetcy is his cousin, Thomas Crespigny Brabazon Vivian (born 17 January, 1971).

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Hon Hyacinthe Anne Peterken 1934-2024

 The Hon Hyacinthe Anne Peterken, who died 9 March, 1924, aged 89, was a scion of the Barons Hatherton.

She was born Hyacinthe Anne Littleton,  14 April, 1934, daughter of then then Hon Thomas Charles Tasman Littleton (born 6 Oct, 1907), (3rd son of the 4th Baron Hatherton), and his wife the former Ann Scott McLeod (who died 1994). Her father was a younger brother of the 5th Baron Hatherton (1900-1969), and the 6th Baron (1906-1973), and he succeeded to the peerage on his brother's demise, 27 June, 1973. The 7th Baron Hatherton died 28 September, 1985, and was succeeded by his cousin.

She married 10 March, 1955, Patrick Peterken, son of A.A. Peterken, by whom she had issue, sons, Patrick and Nicholas and a daughter, Frances.

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Tessa Tiggy Elizabeth Ponsonby (born 2024)

  Joanna Kate Ponsonby [nee Sutton, born 1987], wife of Frederick Edward Ponsonby [born 1986], scion of the Ponsonby baronets, gave birth to a daughter, Tessa Tiggy Elizabeth, 5 March, 2024, a sister for Archie Jonathan Charles, who was born 19 September, 2019, and for Penelope Sylvia Mary, born 5 August, 2021. 

Fred Ponsonby is a younger son of Sir Charles Ponsonby, 3rd Baronet [born 1951], of Woodstock, co Oxford, by his wife the former Mary Priscilla Bromley Davenport, scion of that landed gentry family.

Joanna Ponsonby is a daughter of Robert Hiles Sutton [born 1954], of Newton Valence, co Hampshire, by his wife the former Caroline Jane Dewey [born 1955], daughter of Sir Anthony Dewey, 3rd Baronet [1921-2016].

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Son and heir for Viscount and Viscountess Newport

  Eliza Bridgeman, styled Viscountess Newport, wife of Alexander Michael Orlando Bridgeman, styled Viscount Newport [born 6 September, 1980], has given birth to a son and heir, Archibald Henry Orlando (Archie), 19 March, 2024.

Viscoutess Newport (born 1991, nee Eliza Liepina), was educated at Auckland University, New Zealand. The Newports married at Weston Park, Shropshire, 14 May, 2022.

Viscount Newport is the eldest of the four children of the 7th Earl of Bradford [born 3 Oct, 1947], of Weston-under-Lizard, Shifnal, Shropshire, and his former 1st wife the former Joanna Elizabeth Miller [now Mrs Philip Porter, of Hungerford, Berkshire].

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(George Richard) Hugh Bredin 1935-2024

 Hugh Bredin, who died 10 March, 2024, aged 89, was a croquet player, jazz fan, author, illustrator, pen-and-ink cartoonist, contributor to Punch and Private Eye – and, for more than 30 years, a senior copywriter at some of Britain’s largest advertising agencies, including the American-owned J Walter Thompson...

In 1980 he published The Jeeves Cocktail Book: A Guide to Mixed Drinking. By then his art had already been used to launch the popular new “international intrigue” board game Diplomacy which still flourishes today; the design of the game somehow echoed Bredin’s own flamboyance – especially the loud kipper ties made for him by the celebrated Mayfair boutique owner Mr Fish.

George Richard Hugh Bredin was born 3 March, 1935, on the Wirral Peninsula across the Mersey from Liverpool, a descendant of a Huguenot family who had moved from Bordeaux to Ireland in the 17th century and included Picasso’s long-standing lawyer Jean-Denis Bredin. He was son of George Richard Frederick Bredin, CBE (1899-1983), and his wife the former Dorothy Ellison (1896-1997).

His maternal grandfather, Thomas Richard Ellison (1864-1929), had been president of the Liverpool Cotton Exchange. Hugh’s father George would soon serve as governor of the Blue Nile province in Sudan.

Hugh’s early childhood was spent in the hands of his forthright mother who enjoyed golf, bridge and horse racing and once played tennis in Monaco with Charlie Chaplin.

Hugh began his formal education at Mostyn House, Cheshire. Unusually, his nanny, Miss Mowle, went with him to the prep school – she was given the role of under-matron – and was soon called “Nanny” by the entire school.

Bredin had married in 1957 (div) Mary Gabrielle Drew (born 1936), scion of that landed gentry family, a student at the Oxford Theatre School, daughter of Brigadier Alec Wilson Drew, CBE (1902-1970), and his wife the former Edna Susan Moffitt (1905-65); and married 2ndly, in 1967, Nina Violet Tamara Talbot Rice (1941-2004), daughter of Lieutenant-Col David Talbot Rice, CBE, TD (1903-1972), scion of the Barons Dynevor, by his wife the former Tamara Abelson (1904-1993).

He leaves issue from both marriages.