Dreda, Lady Tryon, (1909-2002)
Michael Rhodes
the widow of the courtier, the 2nd Lord Tryon, GCVO, KCB, DSO, PC, and
mother-in-law of the Prince of Wales's late friend, Lady (Kanga)
Tryon.
She was born as Etheldreda Josephine Burrell, but always known as
Dreda, on 20 June, 1909, the only child of Sir Merrik Raymond Burrell,
7th Baronet, CBE, (1877-1957), by his second wife, the former Coralie
Adelaide Mervyn Porter Porter, scion of an Irish landed family.
She had an elder half-sister (from her father's first marriage), Joan
Louise, who married Lord North, heir to the 8th Earl of Guildford; &
two elder half-brothers, Walter, 8th Baronet, and Peter.
In August, 1939, she married Charles George Vivian Tryon, whose
father, George Clement Tryon was raised to the peerage, 18 April,
1940, as Baron Tryon, and died seven months later, 24 November, 1940.
Dreda's husband succeeded as 2nd Baron. He had served as ADC to the
Governor-General of Canada, the Earl of Bessborough, in the 1930s, and
was Adjutant, Grenadier Guards, 1934-7; ADC to Gen. Sir Bertram
Brooke, who commanded the London District, 1937-39.
Lord Tryon joined the Royal Household in 1949, as Assistant Keeper of
the Privy Purse to King George VI. He had three years to learn the job
under his predecessor, Sir Ulick Alexander. This game him invaluable
experience in this extremely responsible office.
Lord Tryon was appointed Keeper of the Privy Purse & Treasurer to
Queen Elizabeth II in October, 1952, and actually carried the Privy
Purse in the Coronation procession, and it became Tryon's property
after the ceremony. He was repsonsible for the management of the Royal
finances for almost two decades.
When the Court was in London Lord Tryon saw the young Queen four or
five times every week. In London, Lord & Lady Tryon had a small flat
in St James's Palace, and a country home at Great Durnford, near
Salisbury.
Dreda's husband served as Keeper of the Privy Purse until 1971, and
was thereafter a Lord-in-Waiting to HM until his death in 1976.
The young Prince of Wales became a great friend of Lady Tryon's only
son, Anthony, later 3rd Baron, who married in 1973, Dale Harper, from
Melbourne, Australia, known to the Prince as *Kanga*.
The Prince of Wales stood sponsor at the christening of Dreda's
grandson, Charles Tryon, in 1976, and the boy later served QE11 as a
Page of Honour.
Lady Tryon is survived by her son, and by a daughter, Patricia
Macdonald.
The funeral service takes place at St Andrews Church, Great Durnford,
Wiltshire, on Friday 26 April, 2002, at 11.30 a.m.
...Michael Rhodes.
Michael Rhodes
> Dreda, Lady Tryon, who died at her home, 20 April, 2002, aged 92, was
> the widow of the courtier, the 2nd Lord Tryon, GCVO, KCB, DSO, PC, and
> mother-in-law of the Prince of Wales's late friend, Lady (Kanga)
> Tryon.
> She had an elder half-sister (from her father's first marriage), Joan
> Louise, who married Lord North, heir to the 8th Earl of Guildford; &
> two elder half-brothers, Walter, 8th Baronet, and Peter.
Joan Louise Burrell married the heir to the Earl of Guilford, not Guildford.
She was mother of the 9th Earl of Guilford.
> ...Michael Rhodes.