WILLIAMS-WYNN, Veryan, Lady ((Harriet) Veryan Elspeth nee TAILYOUR) 1943-2026
Richard R
From the Telegraph of 17 April 2026: WILLIAMS-WYNN Veryan died peacefully on 8th April 2026, aged 82, surrounded by her family. Much admired daughter of the late General Sir Norman and Lady Tailyour and adored mother of Charles, Alexi, Lucy and Robert. Partner of Robert Tainsh. Despite a gracious and retiring nature she flew solo in light aircraft, was a free-fall parachutist, rode fearlessly to hounds, sailed offshore, and was a London fashion model during the 'swinging sixties'. She received accolades as an author and was a member of the College of Psychic Studies. For 25 years she served as an audio describer at Plymouth's Theatre Royal. A full life lived with much humour and great style. Funeral at Cornwood Church, Devon… at 2.30 p.m. on Friday 8th May 2026. No flowers….
She was d of Gen Sir Norman Hastings TAILYOUR KCB DSO 1914-79 and his 1 w Priscilla June SOUTHBY 1916-71 d of Capt John Herbert Percival SOUTHBY CBE RN 1892-1977 and his 1 w (m 1915, div 1930, as her 1st h) Enid Mary CORBOULD ELLIS 1896-1942. She m 1968 (div 1981) as his 1 w Sir David Watkin WILLIAMS-WYNN 11 Bt 1940-2023, and had two sons (incl the present 12 Bt) and two daus as above.
S R Eglesfield
Paul Theroff
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Richard R
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Veryan Williams-Wynn, countrywoman whose passions spanned aviation, hunting, modelling and psychic studies
As a child she travelled with her Royal Marine father’s postings to hotspots and he insisted that she was taught to ‘shoot to kill’
Veryan Williams-Wynn, who has died aged 82, was the daughter of a general, married the heir to a baronetcy and, like many women of her background and generation, had little in the way of formal education; yet she made up for it in sheer pluck, charm and joie de vivre.
As her death notice recorded, “she flew solo in light aircraft, was a free-fall parachutist, rode fearlessly to hounds, sailed offshore, and was a London fashion model… She received accolades as an author and was a member of the College of Psychic Studies.”
In fact, she assured an interviewer in 2016, Veryan Williams-Wynn was willing to give anything a go “except climbing – I’d never climb a mountain. I’m scared of heights so that would be an absolute nightmare.”
She was born Harriet Veryan Elspeth Tailyour in Bosham, near Chichester, on November 17 1943, one of two children of Norman Tailyour (later General Sir Norman Tailyour, KCB, DSO & Bar), then serving as a Royal Marines commander on a shore base in Essex. Her mother, Norman Tailyour’s first wife June, née Southby, was also the daughter of a naval officer [….]
In 1968 she married David Watkin Williams-Wynn (later Sir David, 11th Bt), a spirited Royal Dragoon officer and scion of one of Wales’s oldest, noblest and – until recent times – wealthiest families.
In 1972, after David’s younger brother, Lt Robert Williams-Wynn, was murdered by the IRA in Northern Ireland, the couple moved to Plas-yn-Cefn, at Cefn near St Asaph in Denbighshire, a large house that had been destined for the family’s younger son.
As Robert had been killed in action there were no death duties to pay and David was delighted to find that, in contrast to his own inheritance, his brother’s estate income was not restricted by trustees.
Although he and Veryan had four children, David’s new-found wealth gave him scope to return to the playboy habits of his youth, and the marriage was soon in trouble.
By the time it ended in divorce in 1981, Veryan had left North Wales for Slade, a rambling house on the edge of Dartmoor where, with her children, dogs and horses, she threw herself into country life with characteristic vigour, birthing lambs, mending fences, constructing vast flower arrangements in her local church and tending her gardens, which she opened for the public [….]
Veryan Williams-Wynn is survived by her twin daughters and two sons.
Veryan Williams-Wynn, born November 17 1943, died April 8 2026