GURDON, Brig Adam Brampton Douglas CB CBE DL (1931-2019)

[Richard R]

From the Telegraph and Times of 30 May 2019: GURDON Adam Brampton Douglas, CB, CBE, DL, late The Black Watch, died peacefully at home on Wednesday 22nd May surrounded by his family. Funeral Service on 11th June at 2 p.m. at St Mary’s Church, Woodbridge. Donations to St Elizabeth Hospice or The Black Watch Association.

He was s of Maj-Gen Edward Temple Leigh GURDON CB CBE MC (1896-1959), whom he succeeded as head of the gentry family of that name of Burgh House, and Elizabeth Madeleine (1901-67) d of Lt George Douglas WILSON (1871-1916) of London and Elizabeth Harpin HARRISON (1871-1953). He m 1958 (ref 282/4 40 Broughton Ferry) Gillian Margaret d of Charles N THOMSON of Ethiebeaton, Dundee, and had a dau, Mary-Louise (b 1968 reg Q4 Hampshire), who m 1994 (reg Q2 Suffolk) John R (b 1965 reg Q4 Hampshire) s of Cmdr Brian G AITCHISON [?b 1939 reg Q3 Surrey] of Farlington, Hampshire by his 1964 m (reg Q3 Surrey) to Elizabeth SILLY (b 1942 reg Q3 Surrey).

[hamish]

Am I right in thinking that Brigadier Gurdon was the father of Madeleine Astrid Gurdon (b.30 Nov 1962) who married Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (LP) in 1991 ??

[Richard R]

Maddeningly, I could only find one daughter of Brig & Mrs Gurdon on BMD.

But you're right about Lady Lloyd-Webber: She's described in the engagement notice in the Times of 9 Nov 1990 as "second daughter of Brigadier and Mrs Adam Gurdon, of Burgh, Suffolk."

[Henry W]

I found her on Scotlandspeople.gov.uk

Madeleine A GURDON, b. 1962, Ref 282/2 1900  Dundee West

[Richard R]

Obit from the Telegraph of 21 June (looks like it went online on 17 June): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2019/06/17/brigadier-adam-gurdon-charismatic-officer-served-korea-kenya/

The obit ends: "Adam Gurdon married, in 1958, Gillian Thomson, who survives him with their FOUR daughters."

[Richard R]

Obit in the Times of 24 June 2019: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/register/brigadier-adam-gurdon-obituary-277fcdzxc

[Richard R]

This extract from the Times obit gives more detail on the four daus:

In 1958 he married Gillian, daughter of Colonel Charles Thomson of the Black Watch. They had four daughters: Miranda Barclay, a teacher at Woodbridge School, Suffolk; Madeleine (Lady Lloyd Webber), a company director who is married to Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer; Melanie Gurdon, a horse physiotherapist; and Mary-Lou, wife of John Aitchison, the wildlife photographer. All survive him.