Lieutenant-Col (Alastair Edward) Henry Worsley 1960-2016

[Michael Rhodes]

Lieut-Col Henry Worsley has died in hospital in Chile, after suffering exhaustion & dehydration whilst trying to cross Antarctica unaided, aged 55.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35398552

Alastair Edward Henry Worsley was born in London in 1960, the only son of General Sir Richard Worsley, GCB, OBE (1923-2013), by his 1st wife the former Sarah Mitchell. His father married 2ndly, in 1980, Caroline Cecily, Duchess of Fife (born 12 Feb, 1934), former wife of the Queen's cousin, the 3rd Duke of Fife (b 23 Sept, 1929), and daughter of the 3rd Baron Forteviot (1906-93), chairman of the whisky distillers, John Dewar & Sons, by his wife the former Cynthia Monica Starkie.

Lieut-Col Worsley married in 1993, Joanna Stainton, by whom he had issue, a son, Max Richard (b 1994) and a daughter, Alicia Mikaela (b 1996)

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[G. Willis]

A great shame to hear of this; an exceptional achievement, however one looks at it.

On the genealogical side of things, many references to Lt-Col Worsley mention a relationship with Frank Worsley, who accompanied Shackleton; according to my research (which I give merely out of interest; as with any of these alleged extremely ancient pedigrees, a pinch of salt is required without the most in-depth checking of primary sources, for my money), the connection is an extremely distant one indeed- both descend from Sir Elias de Worsley (or de Workesley, named for that place in Lancs.), who was apparently born c. 1150, but whilst for Frank Worsley a direct descent back to Sir Elias appears to exist, the earliest direct ancestor of Henry Worsley- based on what I had to hand- was Sir James, of Appuldurcombe, who d. 1538, stated in BLG 1836 (vol II, under Campbell of Gatcombe) to be a 'direct lineal descendant' of Sir Elias. Any relationship between Henry and Frank Worsley would therefore have to pre-date Sir James.