2nd Earl of Swinton, DL (1937-2006)
Michael Rhodes
Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords, died in North Yorkshire,
26 March, 2006. He was 69.
David Yarburgh Cunliffe-Lister was born 21 Mar 1937, son of Major the
Hon. John Yarburgh Cunliffe-Lister (who died of wounds received in
action in 1943), by his wife Anne Irvine (d. 1961), daughter of the
Rev. Canon R.S. Medlicott.
He was educated at Winchester, and the Royal Agricultural College,
Cirencester.
Career:-> succeeded his grandfather in 1972, as Earl of Swinton
(Peerage of the UK, created 1955); Viscount Swinton (created 1935), and
Baron Masham (created 1955); Member of the North Riding of Yorks County
Council, 1961-74; Member of North Yorkshire County Council, 1973-77;
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard (Deputy Government Chief Whip),
1982-86; Director of Leeds Permanent Building Society, 1987-93; Member
of the Countryside Commission, 1987-93; JP for North Yorks (formerly
North Riding) from 1961; Deputy Lieutenant for North Yorkshire, from
1978, &c.
Lord Swinton married in 1959, Susan Lilian Primrose Sinclair (b. 14
Apr, 1935), daughter of Sir Ronald Sinclair, 8th Baronet. His wife had
been severely disabled in a riding accident only months before her
marriage. A champion for the disabled she was elevated to the peerage,
for life, in 1970, as Baroness Masham of Ilton.
Lord Swinton is survived by his wife and by 2 adopted children, Clare
and John. The peerages now devolve upon his Lordship's brother, the
Hon. Nicholas John Cunliffe-Lister, b. 4 Sept, 1939, whose 1st wife was
the Hon Elizabeth Susan Whitelaw, eldest daughter of the 1st (and last)
Viscount Whitelaw, KT, CH, MC, PC.
The funeral Service is at St Mary's Church, Masham, North Yorkshire, 6
April 2006.
Source: Daily Telegraph 29 Mar 2006