The Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare 1940-2026

Lord Archer.

 The Baron Archer of Weston-Super-Mare, the author and politician, died suddenly and peacefully at his home, 5 October, 2026. He was 86.

Archer sold more than 320 million copies worldwide.

Jeffrey Howard Archer was born 15 April, 1940, son of William Archer, and his wife the former Lola Cook.

He married in 1966, Mary Weeden (born 22 December, 1944), daughter of Harold Norman Weeden, by whom he had two sons, the Hon William Archer (b 1972), and the Hon James Archer (b 1974).

Educated at Wellington and Brasenose College, Oxford. Athletics Blues, 1963-65, Gymnastics Blue, 1963, President, OUAC 1965; Member of the Greater London Council for Havering 1966-1970; Conservative MP for Louth, December 1969 to September 1974; Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party 1985-1986. His political career was paused in 2001 with the disgrace of his imprisonment for four years for perjury and perverting the course of justice. An Old Bailey jury found that he had lied in a libel action he had brought against The Star newspaper 13 years earlier, in which he was awarded £500,000 damages. He was released early in 2003 and returned to the House of Lords until he retired in 2024.

He was President, World Snooker Organisation (formerly World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association) 1997-1999: Co-ordinator, Simple Truth Campaign, 1991. 

His plays include: Beyond Reasonable Doubt, 1987, Exclusive, 1990; The Accused (in which he acted) at the Haymarket and Theatre Royal, in 2000. 

Some of his great publications include: Not a Penny More Not a Penny Less (1975), Shall We Tell the President (1977); Kane and Abel (1979); A Quiver Full of Arrows (1980); The Prodigal Daughter (1982); First Among Equals (1984); A Matter of Honour (1986); A Twist in the Tale (1988); As The Crow Flies (1991); Honour Among Thieves (1993); Twelve Red Herrings (1994); The Fourth Estate (1996); The Collected Short Stories (1997), The Eleventh Commandment (1998); To Cut a Long Story Short (2000); A Prison Diary (2002); Sons of Fortune (2003); The Clifton Chronicles Series (from 2011); The Short, the Long and the Tall (2020). His final novel Adam and Eve is to be published this week.

Archer was made a life peer on 27 July 1992 as Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare, of Mark in the County of Somerset. 

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Colonel (John) Malcolm Carmichael Watson 1948-2026

 Colonel (John) Malcolm Carmichael Watson, Queen's Own Hussars, died 23 September, 2026. 

He was born in 1948, a son of John Bernard Watson (1920-1997), of Northallerton North Yorkshire, and his wife the former Margaret Denholm Carmichael (1923-2013), sister of the actor Ian Carmichael, OBE (1920-2010); & married in 1979, Jane Rosemary Eleanor Spooner (born 23 June, 1955), daughter of Derek Richard Spooner (1921-1978), and his wife the former Patricia Mary Sackville Hamilton (1924-2013), scion of the Viscounts Boyne.

He leaves issue, three daughters, Anna (b 1983), Edwina (b 1986) and Fenella (b 1990).

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Lord Carrington's daughter marries US banker

Sean and Francesca.

 The marriage took place 19 September, 2026, at Holy Trinity Church, Bledlow, Buckinghamshire, between Sean Patrick Maloney (born circa 1991), a US banker, son of Mr & Mrs Robert Maloney, of Buffalo, New York, and the Hon Francesca Carington (born 24 July, 1993), elder daughter of the 7th Baron Carrington, DL, Lord Great Chamberlain, (born 2 December, 1948), and his wife the former Daniela Diotallevi.

The bride's father is hereditary Lord Great Chamberlain of England for the reign of King Charles III.

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Sir William Frederick Payne Heseltine, GCB, GCVO, AC, QSO, PC 1930-2026

 Sir William Heseltine, GCB, GCVO, AC, QSO, PC, died 2 October, 2026. He was 96.

The Guardian: [Heseltine] has a strong claim to have been one of the most consequential royal courtiers during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, and was perhaps her favourite. Not only was he the first Australian to enter the tweedy aristocratic atmosphere of the royal household, but during his 27 years at the palace, rising from an assistant information officer to being the queen’s private secretary (1986-90), he initiated changes that have shaped public perceptions of the family firm ever since.

In the words of the royal biographer Ben Pimlott, whereas Heseltine’s predecessors had done everything to keep the press out, he “saw it as his job wherever and whenever possible to let them in”. Heseltine, said Pimlott, “was the first press secretary who recognised a need to sell royalty to the public and, if necessary, to shape its behaviour accordingly”.

Sir William joined the Prime Minister's Department (Australia) in 1951, where he remained until 1962. He was Private Secretary to Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies from 1955 to 1959, Acting Assistant Press Secretary to the Queen from 1960 to 1961, and Acting Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia, The 1st Viscount De L'Isle, from May to August 1962.

From 1962 to 1964, Sir William was Assistant Federal Director of the Liberal Party of Australia, and in 1964 was attached to The Age (Melbourne). In the same year, he was attached to Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, for her tour of Australia. Heseltine joined the Press Office of The Royal Household as Assistant Press Secretary to the Queen and served in that position from 1965 to 1967. He was Press Secretary from 1968 to 1972.

In 1972, Heseltine was moved to the Private Secretary's Office proper, becoming Assistant Private Secretary. In 1977 in the Queen's Silver Jubilee year, he was promoted to Deputy Private Secretary and, in April 1986, to Private Secretary to the Sovereign, and Keeper of the Queen's Archives. He retired in October 1990.

He was born in East Fremantle, Western Australia, 17 July, 1930, the son of L.F. Turner, of Melbourne, he was twice married, firstly, to Ann Elizabeth Turner (who died in 1957), and married 2ndly, Audrey Margaret Nolan, daughter of S. Nolan, of Sydney, by whom he had issue, one son and one daughter.

He was appointed MVO in 1961, CVO in 1969, KCVO in 1982, and GCVO in 1988, CB, in 1978, KCB in 1986, GCB in 1990; AC 1988, and QSO 1990. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1986.

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Hudson Giles Berend Guest-Cohen (born 2026)

Imogen Victoria (Immy) Guest-Cohen (nee Guest, born 1 April, 1993), wife of Liam Robert Gascoigne-Cohen (born 27 September, 1992), and scion of the Barons Wimborne, gave birth to a son, Hudson Giles Berend, 14 September, 2026, in Amsterdam.

Liam is the youngest son of Dr Peter Cohen, and Maryann Gascoigne.

Immy is the eldest daughter of David Christian Guest (born 15 July, 1960), of Easthorpe, Essex, and his wife Henrietta Mary Coode-Adams (born 5 February, 1962), scion of that landed gentry family.

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Henry John de Moraville (born 2026)

Louise M. de Moraville (nee Pugh), wife of George Maximilian De Moraville [born 1985], gave birth to a son, Henry John, 30 September, 2026.

George de Moraville is a son of John De Moraville [born c 1951], of Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire, by his wife the former Frances Margarita Barran [born 1958], scion of the Barran baronets.

Louise de Moraville is a daughter of Mr & Mrs Chris Pugh, of Crowborough, East Sussex.

George is descended from the Bailey landed gentry family and the Grenfell landed family [later Barons Grenfell], &c., and is a great-grandson of Sir George Barran, 2nd Baronet [1872-1952]'

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Troughton/Fleming engagement

The engagement was announced 3 October, 2026, between Archie Thomas Anthony Troughton (born 29 June, 1995), son of Edward Thomas Albert Troughton  (born 1959), of Brechin, Angus, and his wife the former Fiona Elizabeth Reynolds (born 1964), & Matilda Harriet (Tilly) Fleming (born 13 February, 1997), scion of the Fleming landed family of Nettlebed, daughter of Matthew Valentine Fleming (born 12 December, 1964), of Horstead, Norfolk, and his wife the former Caroline Mary Buxton (born 15 March, 1965), scion of the Buxton baronets.

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Lily Florence Rodney (born 2026)

Rosie K. Rodney (nee Atkins), wife of Harry John Melville Rodney (born 1992), scion of the Barons Rodney, gave birth to a daughter, Lily Florence, 12 September, 2026.

Harry Rodney is a son of David James Rodney (born 15 June, 1965), of St Briavels, Gloucestershire, and his wife the former Sally Louise Melville Owen.

Rosie Rodney is a daughter of Mr & Mrs Simon Atkins, of Long Sutton, Hampshire.

The 6th Baron Rodney > Hon Robert William Henry Rodney > Mervyn Harley Rodney > John Armand Rodney > David James Rodney > Harry John Melville Rodney > Lily Rodney (b 2026)

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Corrie/Bainbridge engagement

The engagement was announced 2 October, 2026, between Hugo Peter M. Corrie (born 1999), son of Richard William John McLeod Corrie (born 1960), of Writhlington, Somerset, and his wife the former (Charlotte) Louise Prince (born 1960), & (Charlotte) Isabelle Greenaway Bainbridge (born 1993), the only daughter of James David Tarn Bainbridge (born 1964), of Little Barrington, Gloucestershire, and his wife the former Charlotte Sophia Mills (born 13 April, 1964), daughter of Nicholas Greenaway Mills (1935-2025), and his wife the Hon Susan Glyn (born 10 August, 1940), daughter of the 6th Baron Wolverton (1913-1988).

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Marcus Andrew Frederick Rawlinson 1940-2026

 Marcus Andrew Frederick Rawlinson, who died 18 September, 2026, was a scion of the Rawlinson baronets. He was 85.

He was born 30 November, 1940, second son of Sir Alfred Frederick Rawlinson, 4th Baronet (1900-1969), and his wife the former Bessie Ford Emmatt (1900-1996), and married 31 October, 1964, Miriam Diana Joice (born 1944), daughter of Richard George Joice (1921-1999), by his wife the former Margaret Dann (1922-1998), by whom he had issue, three daughters, Joanna (b 30 Oct, 1965), Nicola (b 17 Dec 1967), and Candida (b 25 Feb, 1974).

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Lady Hoskyns 1934-2026

 Lady Hoskyns, who died 25 September, 2026, aged 92, was the widow of Sir John Hoskyns, a scion of the Hoskyns baronets.

She was Miranda Jane Marie Mott, daughter of Tom Mott, and married in 1956, Sir John Leigh Austin Hungerford Hoskyns who was born in 1927, son of Lt-Col Chandos Benedict Arden Hoskyns (1895-1940), by his wife the former Joyce Taylor (who d 1979), by whom she had issue, two sons Barnaby and Bededict and a daughter, Tamsine.

Her husband, who died 20 October, 2014, aged 87, was a scion of the Hoskyns Baronets (Bt, England, cr 1676), & was head of the Prime Minister's Policy Unit, 1979-82; Director-General, Institute of Directors, 1984-89; Knight Bachelor, 1982, &c.

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Gouriet/Banister engagement

 The engagement was announced 2 October, 2026, between Henry Angus Lowsley Gouriet (born 2000), son of James Edward Frank Gouriet (born 14 March, 1966), of Chavenage, Gloucestershire, and his wife the former Joanna Lowsley-Williams (born 13 Nov, 1963), scion of that landed family and descended maternally from the landed family of McCorquodale, & Jasmine Rose Banister (born 2000), daughter of Ivan Gerald William Banister (born June, 1955), of Warden Hill, Oxfordshire, and his wife the former Heather R. Howard (born 1961).

Henry Gouriet is a grandson maternally of Rona McCorquodale (1936-2025), of that landed gentry family

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Gibson/Wills marriage

 The marriage took place, 4 September, 2026, at St James the Less Church, Litchfield, Hampshire, between Marcus Seymour Gibson (born 1989), son of Mr Martin C Gibson, of Manaton, Devon, and Mrs Joanna L Gibson (nee Boswell), of Great Swinburn, Northumberland, and Laura Felicity Hamilton Wills (born 1996), scion of the Barons Dulverton, daughter of Christopher Aubrey Hamilton Wills (born 21 February, 1953), of Litchfield Down, Hampshire, and his wife the former Lady Katharine Anne Meade (born 10 Aug, 1959), fifth daughter of the 6th Earl of Clanwilliam (1914-1989).

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Orson Max Arnold Benitz (born 2026)

 Celia Rose Benitz (née Weinstock, born 1985), wife of Max Edward F. Benitz [born 1985], gave birth to a son Orson Max Arnold, 26 September, 2026, a brother for Ajax Simon Wilhelm, who was born 9 November, 2024.

Celia is the second daughter of the late Hon Simon Andrew Weinstock [1952-96], and his wife the former Laura Helen Legh [born 16 May, 1954] [now Laura Weinstock Sykes, of Milton Lilbourne, Wiltshire] scion of the Barons Newton.

Max Benitz is the youngest son of Bryan Macintosh Benitz, of Wylye, Wiltshire, and his wife, nee ____ Hutchinson.

The 3rd Baron Newton [1888-1960] > Maj Hon Sir Francis Legh [1919-84] > Laura Helen Legh [b 1954] > Celia Weinstock [b 1985] > Orson Benitz (b 2026)

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Ankaret Helen Dean (nee Chetwynd-Talbot) 1932-2026

 Ankaret Helen Dean (née Chetwynd-Talbot), who died in Canada, 27 September, 2026, aged 94, was a scion of the Earls Talbot [a cadet of the Earls of Shrewsbury].

She was born 26 July, 1932, the second daughter of Squadron Leader John Arthur Chetwynd-Talbot, AFC (1905-1993), and his wife the former Helen Mary Townsend (1906-1969); and married 10 September, 1955, John Orcheston Dean, son of S.S. Dean, of Johannesburg, by whom she had issue, a son, John, and three daughters, Joanna, Philippa and Louise.

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Kingston/Dugdale marriage

 The marriage took place in September, 2026, between Ash Kingston (born circa 1995), and Fernanda Elizabeth Grace Dugdale (born 15 April, 1994), second daughter of Sir William Matthew Stratford Dugdale, 3rd Baronet (born 22 February, 1959), of Merevale Hall, Warwickshire, and his wife the former Paige Sullivan Perkins.

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James Christopher Stevenson-Hamilton, 17th of Fairholm 1933-2026

James Christopher Stevenson-Hamilton, who died 23 September, 2026, aged 93, was head of that Scots landed gentry family, the 17th of Fairholm (Feudal Baron of Kirkton & of the Burgh of Barony of Kirkstyle).

He was born at Pretoria, South Africa,  21 May, 1933 son of James Stevenson-Hamilton (1867-1957), and his wife the former Hilda Cholmondeley (1901-1979), scion of that landed gentry family; and married 9 July, 1960, Jennifer Mary Habershon (1933-2025), daughter of the Rev Edward Francis Habershon (1886-1968), and his wife the former Norah May Fairlie Dobbs (1900-1992), scion of that Irish landed gentey family, by whom he had issue, three sons, James of Fairholm & Kirton Yr (born 26 April, 1962), who succeeds as 18th of Fairholm, Andrew (born 23 Feb, 1965), and John (born 31 May, 1969).

His wife died 8 April, 2025, aged 91.

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Hon Harriet Pauline Sophia Cotterell 1943-2026

 The Hon Harriet Cotterell, who died 19 September, 2026, aged 83, was a scion of the Barons Camoys.

Harriet Pauline Sophia Stonor was born 6 January, 1943, the third daughter of Major the 6th Baron Camoys (1913-1976), and his wife the former Mary Jeanne Stourton (1913-1987), scion of the Barons Mowbray, Segrave & Stourton; and married 24 July, 1965, (Jonathan) Julian Cotterell (1940-2017), son of Maj Leonard Evelyn Cotterell (1893-1968), and his wife the former Nancy Ellinor Kidston (1901-1991), scion of that landed family of Redenham Park.

She leaves two sons, Edmund (born 29 Oct, 1967), and Rupert (born 18 June, 1969), and a daughter, Alice (born 23 May, 1966).

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Jamie Frank Wingfield Digby (born 2026)

Lucinda Charlotte Anne Wingfield Digby (nee Sewell, born 30 September, 1993), wife of Richard Francis Wingfield Digby (born 1989), scion of that landed gentry family, gave birth to a son, Jamie Frank, 17 September, 2026.

Richard Wingfield Digby is a son of George Richard Wingfield Digby (born18 August, 1955), of Oxfordshire, and his wife the former Frances Jane Henn (born 2 February, 1959), scion of that Irish landed family.

Lucinda Wingfield Digby is a scion of the Sewell landed gentry family, third daughter of Mark Geoffrey Sewell (born 27 May, 1955), of Idlicote, Warwickshire, and his wife the former Elizabeth Mary Alexandra Fraser (born 1957), descended from the Seymour Dukes of Somerset.

Lucinda's descent from the 5th Baron Methuen:-

5th Baron Methuen (1891-1975) > Hon Elizabeth Methuen (1928-2017) > Elizabeth Fraser (b 1957) > Lucinda Sewell (b 1993)

Lucinda's Somerset lineage:-

8th Duke of Somerset (1695-1757) > Rev Lord Francis Seymour (1726-99) > Francis Compton Seymour (d 1822) > Henry John Hyde Seymour (1795-1860) > Rev Henry Seymour (1825-1911) > Madeleine St Maur Seymour (1862-1951) > Violet Abel Smith (1896-1972) > Malcolm Fraser (1924-2019) > Elizabeth Fraser (b 1957) > Lucinda Sewell (b 1993) > Jamie Wingfield Digby (b 2026)

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Peake/Strang Steel engagement

The engagement was announced 26 September, 2026, between William J. Peake, son of Mr and Mrs Edward Peake, of Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, and Alice Charlotte Strang Steel (born 1993), scion of the Steel baronets, eldest daughter of David William Strang Steel (born 24 October, 1961), of Banchory, Kincardineshire, and his wife the former Fiona Louise Legge.

Alice is a great-granddaughter of Sir Samuel Strang Steel, 1st Baronet (1882-1961)

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