DE CHAIR, Mrs Rodney (Camilla J V nee _) d 2025

[Richard R]

From the Telegraph of 2 Oct 2025: DE CHAIR Camilla, formerly Burdett Blackett. Beloved wife of Rodney, and formerly of the late Archie Burdett Blackett of Arbigland, at home on 31st August. Caring mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Service of Thanksgiving on 4th November at 2.30 p.m. at All Saints Church, Fulham, London… followed by wake nearby - burial has taken place at Arbigland. No flowers please, but donations, if desired, to Royal National Institute of Blind People, or Alzheimer's Research UK.

Needs more work, but I need to get to The National Archives this morning….

She m 1^st Archie BURDETT BLACKETT and had issue. She m 2^nd 2000 as his 2^nd w Rodney Somerset b 1935 s of Somerset Struben DE CHAIR 1911-95 scion of that gentry family and Thelma Grace 1911-74 d of Harold Dennison ARBUTHNOT 1868-1944 of Merristwood Hall, Worplesdon, Surrey (gt gs of Robert ARBUTHNOT of Haddo-Rattray 1728-1803 who was f of Sir William ARBUTHNOT 1^st Bt 1766-1829, as well 2xgt gs of Sir John ANSTRUTHER of that Ilk 2^nd Bt 1718-99, 3xgt gs of 6^th Earl of GALLOWAY c1694-1773, etc) and Annie Grace LAMBERT 1875-1956.

[S R Eglesfield]

She was born in 1938 as Camilla Joy Victoria B[Bissell?] THOMAS. Her father, Capt Harold George Bissell THOMAS (c.1885 - 25 XII 1959), would appear to have been married, firstly, to Violet THUNDER (c.1872 - 21 III 1918), in 1912, and, secondly, to (as her first husband) Mary Mackenzie YOUNG (1903 - 26 III 1930) on 17 December 1921 (divorced 1925). The Free BMD birth index gives her mother's maiden name as Steuart; I have been unable to find a record of her parents' marriage, but it would appear from her father's probate record that her mother's maiden name was Joyce Alice STEUART.

 

Her first husband (married 5 VI 1959), Capt Archibald Frederick Stewart BURDETT BLACKETT of Arbigland (12 IX 1933 - 20 II 1970), was a member of the Blackett of Wylam, Northumberland, landed gentry (LG) family. Their only child, Cynthia BURDETT BLACKETT (born 11 VI 1960) was married, firstly, in 1984 to (as his first wife) Rupert Neil KNIGHT (born VII 1957), and, secondly, on 22 October 1988, to Roderick Adrian HAMILTON (born 25 VIII 1959), a scion of, but not descended from, the Barons HolmPatrick.

 

Mr and Mrs Roderick Hamilton have three children: Charles Archie William HAMILTON (born 12 IX 1992), Rebecca Louise HAMILTON (born 14 VI 1989) and Laura Susannah HAMILTON (born 15 IX 1990).

 

Mrs Hamilton's first husband, Rupert Knight, was married, secondly (registered 1990 - Henley), to Diana Jean CHRISTIE-MILLER (born 24 I 1962), of that LG family, by whom he would appear to have had one son and one daughter.