Maxey/Hussey engagement

The engagement was announced 9 August, 2025, between Richard William Macfarlane Maxey (born February, 1978), youngest son of Philip Ernest Macfarlane Maxey (born 1947), of Longmeadow, Hertfordshire, by his wife the former Victoria I. Walduck (born circa 1950), & Flora Virginia Hussey (born 15 August, 1985), elder daughter of Andrew David Hussey (born 1 September, 1961), of Manston, Dorset, and his wife the former Judith Fiona Watt (born 1958).

It is Richard Maxey's second union with a peerage family. He married firstly, in 2014, the Hon Alice Theresa Beaumont (born 1983), daughter of the 4th Viscount Allendale (born 1948), by whom he has a daughter.

Flora Hussey is a niece of the 7th Marquess of Northampton (b 2 April, 1946). Her father Andrew is Lord Northampton's younger half-brother.

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Chamberlain/Plowden engagement

 The engagement was announced 8 August, 2025, between Alexander Timothy Oliver Chamberlain (born 5 March, 1996), son of Christopher Humfrey Neil Chamberlain (born 1964), of White Colne, Essex, and his wife the former Bridget Mary Paul (born 1965), scion of that landed gentry family, and Mary Isabel Plowden (born 14 Oct, 1997), scion of that landed gentry family, daughter of Roger Godfrey Paul Plowden (born 8 February, 1953), of Lydbury North, Shropshire, scion of that landed gentry family, and his wife the former Helen Mary Errington Gilbey (born 6 February, 1959), scion of the Gilbey baronets.

Mary Plowden is a niece of James Newman Gilbey (born 4 Oct, 1956), a love of Diana, Princess of Wales.

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Ursula Elspeth Malloch Brown (nee Pelly) 1921-2015

 Ursula Elspeth Malloch Brown, who died 1 August, 2025, aged 103, was a scion of the Pelly baronets.

She was born 31 December, 1921, daughter of Sir Kenneth Raymond Pelly, Kt, MC (1893-1973),  and his wife the former Elspeth Norma Grant (who died 6 June, 1978); and married 24 February, 1945, Robert George Malloch Brown (who died 11 May, 1967), son of Robert Malloch Brown, and leaves a son (George) Mark Malloch Brown, the Baron Malloch-Brown, KCMG, PC (born 16 September, 1953), the diplomat and politician, who was raised to the peerage of life, in 2007.

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Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Jeremy 'Robin' Ross, KCB, OBE 1939-2025

Lieutenant-General Sir Robin Ross, KCB, OBE, died 29 July, 2025. He was 85.

Ross was a dynamic Royal Marine who led British humanitarian effort after first Gulf War. 

His career spanned nearly four decades and culminated in his appointment as Commandant General Royal Marines; he led Operation Haven in Northern Iraq in 1991, and later was instrumental in ensuring the future of Britain’s amphibious warfare capability.

Ross was appointed the British commander of Operation Haven when, after the First Gulf War, some 6,000 Allied troops were tasked with safeguarding the people of Northern Iraq after Saddam Hussein had crushed their rebellion in March 1991. 

Ross’ diplomatic skill and leadership, tested amid a complex international and humanitarian crisis, earned him great respect, and he was decorated with the Legion of Merit from the United States and the Medal of Merit in Gold from the Queen of the Netherlands.

He was born 28 November, 1939, son of Lt-Col Gerald Whitehill Ross (1904-1988), Royal Marines, and his wife Margaret Dorothy Ross-Bell (1916-1992). An ancestor, Major General Robert Ross, with an army of 4,500 men including 1,000 Royal Marines from the fleet, captured Washington during the War of 1812 and set fire to the White House.

He was Major General Training Reserve and Special Forces (1988-90), Major General Commando Forces (1990-93), and Commandant General Royal Marines (1993-96), the last to serve in the rank of Lieutenant-General.

He was appointed KCB in 1994.

Ross was chairman of SSAFA Forces Help from 2000-10, and a liveryman of the Plaisterers’ Company. 

He married 15 May, 1965, (Dorcas) Sara Curtis (1932-2023), daughter of Col William Patrick Stewart Curtis, OBE (1899-1965), scion of the Curtis baronets, by his wife the former Margaret Pamela Adderley Cradock (1908-79), scion of that landed gentry family.

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Hon Susan Frances Tyser (nee Remnant) 1938-2025

 The Hon Susan Frances Tyser, who died 31 July, 2025, aged 87, was a scion of the Barons Remnant.

She was born 9 May, 1938, daughter of the 2nd Baron Remnant, MBE (1895-1967), the cricketer, who played first class cricket for Berkshire, and his wife the former Norah Susan Wogan-Browne (1900-1990), descended from the Barons Decies.

She married 29 March, 1967, as his second wife, Alan Tyser (1920-2005), of West Hanney House, Oxfordshire, son of Granville Nash Tyser (1884-1970), of Mayfair, and his wife, the former Constance Evelyn Wood (1885-1922), by whom she had issue, a son, Harry (born 17 Nov, 1968).

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The Baron Sawyer 1943-2025

 The Baron Sawyer, Labour life peer and trade unionist, died 4 August, 2025. He was 82.

Lawrence Sawyer, known as Tom, was General Secretary of the Labour Party from 1994 to 1998.

Aged fifteen, Sawyer went to work on the factory floor of a Durham engineering works. He became a National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) Officer in 1971, becoming their Northern Regional Officer in 1975. In 1981, he was made Deputy General Secretary of NUPE and served through its merger to become UNISON until 1994. In his NUPE role he served as a National Executive Committee Member of the Labour Party between 1981 and 1994 and was elected to serve as its Chair from 1990 to 1991. In 1994, Sawyer became General Secretary of the Labour Party and led the Party successfully into the 1997 General Election. He was a moderniser who helped bring about the New Labour era. He stood down at the 1998 Party Conference and was created a Life Peer as Baron Sawyer, of Darlington in the County of Durham on 4 August 1998. He was later a director of several companies and public sector bodies.

In 2005, Lord Sawyer became the chancellor of the University of Teesside, replacing former Conservative MP and member of the European Commission, Leon Brittan. Sawyer served in this role until 2017.

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Susan Saguenay Catherine Stacpoole (nee Robertshaw) 1937-2025

 Susan Saguenay Catherine Stacpoole (nee Robertshaw), died 26 July, 2025, aged 88.

She was born in 1937, daughter of Vice Admiral Sir Ballin Illingworth Robertshaw, KBE, CB (1902-1971), & his first wife the former Hannah Catherine Luard (1910-1948), scion of that landed gentry family; and married 4 January, 1958, Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick Michael Richard Stacpoole (born 5 Sept, 1930), son of Lt-Col Richard Hassard Stacpoole, MC (1896-1973), and his wife the former Helen Muriel Clare Morphy (1901-1978), and succeeded his father as head of that Irish landed family, 10 March, 1973. He predeceased his wife by one month, dying 18 June, 2025, aged 94.

Mrs Stacpoole had issue, three sons, Richard (born 17 Dec, 1959), Mark (born 1961), and James (born 1964).

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Jean Grizel Pinsent 1933-2025

 Jean Grizel Pinsent (née McMicking), who died 1 August, 2025, aged 91, was a scion of the McMicking landed gentry family.

She was born in 1933 a daughter of Major-General Neil McMicking, CB, CBE, DSO, MC (1894-1963), head of that Scots landed gentry family, and his wife the former Margaret Winifred Landale (1903-1989), scion of that landed family; and married 26 May, 1962, the Rev Ewen Macpherson Pinsent (1930-2020), scion of the baronets of that name, son of Clive Pinsent (1886-1948) and his wife the former Kathleen Jane Macpherson (1895-1974), by whom she had two sons, Thomas Neil Pinsent (b 6 Nov 1964), Sir Matthew Clive Pinsent, CBE (born 10 Oct, 1970), the British Olympian, and two daughters, Katherine Jane (b 20 Feb, 1963), and Emma Charlotte (b 6 Nov, 1964, twin with her brother, Thomas).

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ffitch/Napier-Munn engagement

 The engagement was announced 5 August, 2025, between George William ffitch (born 1996), the eldest son of Simon K. ffitch, of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, and his wife the former Sally J. March, & Georgina Catherine Napier-Munn (born 1999), descended from the Trevelyan & Neave baronets, the only daughter of Simon Deane Napier-Munn (born 7 Aug, 1961), of South Leigh, Oxfordshire, and Mrs Napier-Munn.

Sir John Trevelyan, 4th Baronet > Venerable George Trevelyan > Maj-Gen Henry Trevelyan > Sir Ernest Trevelyan > Sylvia Trevelyan > Elisabeth Deane > Simon Napier-Munn > Georgina Napier-Munn

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Simmons/Gibson marriage

The marriage took place 2 August, 2025, at St Peter's Church, Slinfold, between Mr Tomas Simmons and Miss Katherine Louise Gibson (born 1994), daughter of (Jonathan) Mark Bradford Gibson (born 1958), and his wife the former Hon Camilla Birgitta Davidson (born 17 February, 1963).

Katherine is a granddaughter of the late 2nd Viscount Davidson (1928-2012).

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William Bertram Alexander Ramsay 1997-2025

 William Bertram Alexander Ramsay, who died 28 July, 2025, aged 28, was a scion of the Ramsay baronets of Balmain.

He was born 26 January, 1997, the second son of Michael Stuart Ramsay (born 21 June, 1964), and his wife the former Beatriz Gonzalez Pacho Trapiello. He was unmarried.

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Nall-Cain/Boulet marriage

The marriage took place, circa 1 August, 2025, between the Hon William Thomas Anthony Nall-Cain (born 1991), & Christy Janice Boulet.

William is the second son of the 3rd Baron Brocket (born 12 February, 1952), & his first wife the former  Isabell Maria Lorenzo, only daughter of Gustavo Lorenzo, of Whaleneck Drive, Merrick, Long Island, New York, USA.

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Kadoorie/Bomar engagement

The engagement was announced 2 August, 2025, between Philip Lawrence Kadoorie (born 1992), son of the Hon Sir Michael David Kadoorie (born 1941), of Hong Kong, and his late wife the former Betty J. Tamayo (who died in 2021); &  Audrey Bomar, daughter of Mrs Linda Thompson, of California, United States.

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Clementine Charlotte Grace Thornton-Berry (born 2025)

Amelia Charlotte Thornton-Berry (nee Crawford, born 1993), wife of Oliver Talbot Thornton-Berry [born 27 December, 1989], scion of that landed gentry family, gave birth to a daughter, Clementine Charlotte Grace, 15 July, 2025.

Oliver is the eldest son of Adrian Trevor Thornton-Berry [born 1961], of Swinithwaite Hall, North Yorkshire, and his wife the former Bridget J Collin [born 1959].

Amelia is the only daughter of [Timothy] James Crawford [born 1962], of Lilling, North Yorkshire, and his wife the former Charlotte G.L. Baker [born 1962].

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Sir John Douglas Hoste Hall, 15th Baronet 1945-2025

 Sir John Hall of Dunglass, 15th Baronet, university professor, poet and lecturer, died at Totnes, Devon, 22 June, 2025, aged 80.

The baronet was a poet, teacher and essayist, whose first poems were published in 1966. He was included in the anthology A Various Art, a selected poems came out in 1999 under the title of Else Here and a more recent collection in 2008 called Couldn't You? Much of his later writing took the form of visual poems. He worked at Dartington College of Arts for many years. 

John Douglas Hoste Hall was born 7 January, 1945, son of Sir Douglas Basil Hall of Dunglass, 14th Baronet (1909-2004), and his wife the former Rachel Marion Gartside-Tipping (1909-1990).

He married 30 December, 1972 (div 2009) Angela Margaret Keys, daughter of George Keys, of Buckfastleigh, Devon, by whom he had two sons,  Thomas, of Dunglass Yr, and Bernard Neville (born 19 February, 1979). The elder son, Thomas James Hall, Yr of Dunglass (born 10 Dec, 1975), succeeds to the baronetcy.

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Rowland Adrian Dunbar 1934-2025

Rowland Adrian Dunbar, who died 18 July, 2025, aged 91, was a scion of the Dunbar of Mochrum baronets.

He was born 14 July, 1934, a son of Sir Adrian Ivor Dunbar, 12th Baronet (1893-1977), and his second wife the former Esther Naomi Robinson (who died 1982); and married 14 December, 1957, Janet Lockhart Heron (1933-2020), daughter of George Lockhart Heron, by whom he had issue, three daughters, Mary Naomi (born 12 Oct, 1958), Sylvia Katherine (born 10 June, 1960), and Shonna Janet (born 26 February, 1962).

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Sir Charles Wallace Seton, 13th Baronet 1948-2025

 Sir Charles Wallace Seton, 13th Baronet (aka Charles Wallace Seton Jr., of Vero Beach, Florida) died 20 July, 2025. He was 76, and a resident of Vero Beach, Florida.

He served in the US Air Force and was a Vietnam War veteran.

He was born at Shelby, Ohio, 25 August, 1948, son of Charles Wallace Seton (1915-1975), a sergeant in the US army (Purple Heart and Silver Star USA), by his wife the former (Dorothy) Joyce Perdunn (1919-1998).

He succeeded to the baronetcy of Pitmedden, co. Aberdeen [N.S., 1684], on the death of his uncle, Sir James Seton, 12th Baronet, in 1998.

He married in 1974 (div. 1994), Rebecca Lowery, daughter of Robert Lowery; and married secondly, Cindy Smith. He leaves a daughter from his first marriage, Jennifer Penn.

Sir Charles is succeeded by his younger brother, Bruce Anthony Seton, who was born 29 Apr, 1957.

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Peter Phillips, nephew of the King, engaged to Harriet Sperling

  The engagement was announced 1 August 2025 between Mr Peter Mark Andrew Phillips (born 15 November, 1977), the only son of Capt Mark Anthony Peter Phillips (born 22 September, 1948), late the Queen’s Dragoon Guards, scion of that landed gentry family, and his first wife HRH The Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise, Princess Royal, KG, &c (born 15 Aug, 1950), &  Harriet Eleanor Sperling (born 1980), daughter of Rupert Hugh Sanders (1944-2023) and his wife the former Mary Elizabeth Hoskins (born 1950).

Peter Phillips, nephew of the King, the late Queen's eldest grandchild, was first seen on the arm of a new girlfriend a year ago.  Harriet, described in the Sun newspaper as "a paediatric and specialist nurse and freelance writer in her 40s" was seen with Phillips at the Badminton Horse Trials where she was introduced to Queen Camilla.

Harriet wrote in March 2024 of the struggles, and joys, of her life as a single parent bringing up her young daughter, Georgina Isabella (born in 2012). She highlighted how while 'parenting solo can be tough' it 'can also be the most beautiful, precious relationship.' Harriet said: 'In the earlier years of my journey as a single mother to my daughter, resources were scarce, and the future was uncertain. 'Yet, in the absence of material security, I discovered the strength and life that comes from true selfless love. A love that is able to be solely devoted to your child.'

Harriet's first marriage was to Antonio St John Sperling (born with the surname Di Martino in Nov 1981), who was a son of Domenico Di Martino & of Sonia Anne Agnes Sperling (1952-2017), scion of that landed gentry family, of Lattenbury Hill, St Ives, Huntingdonshire, and descended from Admiral Sir Henry Loraine Baker, 2nd Baronet, CB.

Harriet's life as a struggling single parent belies her aristocratic and distinguished ancestry. The NHS nurse was born Harriet Eleanor Sanders, her birth registered at Swindon, in the first quarter of 1980, daughter of solicitor Rupert Hugh Sanders (1944-2023), and his wife the former Mary Elizabeth Hoskins (born 1950), daughter of Richard Samuel Hoskins (1912-78), of Park Corner, Cirencester, and his wife (nee Wakefield).

Harriet's mother featured in Tatler in 1971 on their 'Girls in Pearls' page following the announcement of her engagement to Rupert Sanders, whose ancestry is rich in the landed 'beerage' and stockbroking.

Harriet's grandfather Maj Geoffrey Thomas St John Sanders (1911-86), a High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, married Eleanor De Zoete (1910-78), of the Mill House, Radwell, scion of the De Zoete stockbroking dynasty, daughter of the Old Etonian stockbroker and famed England cricketer Herman Walter De Zoete (1877-1957).

Herman De Zoete was a right-handed batsman who bowled both slow left-arm orthodox and left-arm medium pace, and played for Cambridge University in the 1890s. He was part of the De Zoete & Bevan stockbroking family who were bought out by Barclays Bank in 1986. De Zoete married in Essex in 1903, Dorothy Courage (1877-1972), scion of the Courage landed gentry family, whose fortune was based on brewing from the 18th century. 

Dorothy Courage was the tenth child of Edward Courage (1832-1904), of Shenfield Place, Brentwood, Essex, and Hanover Square, London, an old Harrovian, head of the Courage landed gentry family, by his wife the former Helen Rosa Marshall (1837-96), a scion of that landed gentry family of Hardres Court, Canterbury.

Harriet has siblings: Nicholas (born 1975), Louisa (born 1976), and Rebecca (born 1986).

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Laurence Charles Kevin Kelly 1933-2025

 Laurence Kelly died 23 July, 2025, aged 92. He was a writer and businessman.

Kelly penned two acclaimed biographies of two important Russian figures from the early 19th century: Mikhail Lermontov and Alexander Griboyedov. He won the Cheltenham Prize for Lermontov: Tragedy in the Caucasus. He has also edited literary anthologies on Moscow, St Petersburg and Istanbul. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2003.

Laurence Charles Kevin Kelly was born 11 April, 1933, scion of an Irish landed family, son of Sir David Victor Kelly, GCMG (1891-1959) by his 2nd wife the former Comtesse Renee Marie-Noële de Jourdan de Vaux (1901-95), scion of the French noble family of that name. His father was British ambassador to the Soviet Union in the Cold War.

He married in 1963, Alison Linda McNair Scott (born 1 Oct, 1936), daughter of Maj Ronald Guthrie McNair Scott (1904-95), scion of the gentry family of that name Huish House, by his wife the former Hon Mary Cecilia Berry (1906-96), daughter of the 1st Viscount Camrose (1879-1954). His wife died 12 January, 2019. 

He leaves a son, Nicholas Tara Kelly (born 24 Nov, 1967), and two daughters, Rosanna Mary (born 21 May, 1964), and Rachel Sophia (born 19 Sept, 1965), wife of the 4th Baron Altrincham (b 18 Dec, 1965),

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The Earl of Dundee engaged to Julia Trotter

The engagement was announced 1 Aug 2025, between Alexander Henry Scrymgeour of Dundee, the 12th Earl of Dundee (born 5 June, 1949), a widower, son of the late 11th Earl of Dundee (1902-1983), and his wife the former Pamela Katherine Montagu Douglas Scott (1910-2012), scion of the Dukes of Buccleuch and Queensberry, and Mrs Julia Henrietta Trotter (nee Greenwell) [born 2 February, 1946], widow of Major Alexander Richard Trotter, 14th of Mortonhall and 5th of Charterhall, CVO, who died 3 August, 2022, and daughter of Sir Peter McClintock Greenwell, 3rd Baronet [1914-78], and his wife the former Jean Henrietta Rose Haig-Thomas [1920-2010].

The Earl of Dundee married 1stly, 19 July, 1979, Siobhan Mary Llewellyn, who died 11 March, 2019, by whom he has a son and three daughters.

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