DEVAS, James Campbell 1955-2024

[Richard R]

From the Telegraph of 29 June 2024: DEVAS It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of James Devas, beloved father of Cheskie, Nicky and Rosie, who passed peacefully after a long illness on 20th June 2024, aged 69. He remained his usual cheerful and unique self to the end. There will be a Memorial Service at Holy Trinity, Bembridge on Friday 19th July at 2 p.m...

He was s of Capt Michael Campbell DEVAS MC 1924-2007 (who he succ. as) head of that gentry family of Hunton Court and Patience Merryday b 1931 d of Sir Albert Gerald STERN KBE CMG 1878-1966 scion of that gentry family of Highdown Tower and Helen Merryday d of Sir Frederick Orr ORR-LEWIS 1^st Bt 1866-1931 and as her 1^st h Maude Helen Mary BOOTH d 1951. He m 2 Sep 1988 (Times 28 Sep) Philippa D A b 1961 reg Q4 London d of David WIGAN of Diss, Norfolk and _ NAUMANN, and had issue

1. Nicholas (Nicky) Campbell b 6 July 1994 (Times 13 July) reg Q3 Westminster, succeeds his f as family head.

1. Francesca (Cheskie) Alice b 18 May 1992 (Times 22 May) reg Q2 Westminster

2. Rosanna (Rosie) Merryday b 8 Oct 1996 (Times 21 Oct) reg Q4 Westminster

[S R Eglesfield]

The late Mr Devas's mother, Patience Merryday MARRIOTT, formerly DEVAS, née STERN, died on 11 February 2019. Her own mother, Lady STERN, née Helen Merryday ORR-LEWIS, was born on 13 August 1901 and died on 12 November 1974.

 

Mr Devas's wife, now widow, née Philippa Dinah Aline WIGAN, of that landed gentry family of Drewitts, is the daughter of F/Lt David Henry Lewis WIGAN (19 V 1924 - 14 XI 2006) by his second wife (married 1 II 1956), Dinah Margaret Greenwood NAUMANN (1931 - 15 V 2020).

 

David Wigan was the younger son of Brig-Gen John Tyson WIGAN, CB, CMG, DSO, TD, DL, JP (31 VII 1877 - 23 XI 1952), High Sheriff of Essex 1930, MP (Coalition Conservative) for Abingdon, 1918-21, and his wife (married 15 II 1911), Aline HENDERSON (12 IV 1891 - 20 VII 1973), the eldest daughter of Henry William HENDERSON (28 V 1862 - 16 III 1931), a brother of the 1st Baron Faringdon.

 

Dinah Naumann was the elder daughter of Maj Charles Cecil NAUMANN, MC (27 VIII 1897 - 16 XII 1946) and his wife (married c.1927), Helen Margaret TETLEY (17 VIII 1901 - 19 XII 1971).

 

Helen Tetley's brother, Geoffrey TETLEY (1904 - 23 II 1947) had an elder son, Oliver Robin TETLEY (16 IV 1929 - 30 VI 1972), whose fourth wife (married 10 VI 1964, divorced 1970) was Lady Patricia Maud BOWES-LYON (30 I 1932 - 1 IV 1995), a sister of the 17th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne.

 

Helen Tetley's sister, Amy Beatrice TETLEY (1902 - 19 II 1969) was the wife (married 3 XI 1925) of Brig John Percival WHITELEY, OBE, TD (7 I 1898 - 4 VII 1943), MP (Conservative) for Buckingham 1937-43, and they had three sons: Peter John Henry WHITELEY (1928 - 2 XII 2015), who was the husband (married 18 VII 1955) of Lady Angela Mary NORTH (28 V 1931 - 29 V 2017), sister of the 9th Earl of Guilford; Capt Martin Frank WHITELEY (1930 - 17 III 1984), who was the husband (married 16 VII 1971) of Lady Anne Patricia NEVILL (born 25 X 1938), eldest daughter of the 5th Marquess of Abergavenny; and Richard Timothy WHITELEY, OBE, DL (20 XI 1931 - 9  I 2017), the husband (married 1955) of Jane Mairi Margaret DRUMMOND-HAY (born 26 I 1931), of that landed gentry family, a granddaughter maternally of the 13th Duke of Hamilton and 10th Duke of Brandon.

 

Another sister of Helen Tetley, Constance TETLEY (18 III 1907 - 26 VI 1987), was the wife (married 1926) of Lancelot Grant Oglander PRIDEAUX-BRUNE (17 X 1894 - 2 V 1987), of that landed gentry family.