SPROT, Lt Col Aidan MC (1919-2021)
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Lt. Col. Aidan Sprot of Haystoun MC, who has died aged 101, was a high profile Peebles-shire laird for more than 50 years, having inherited the ancient Hay property of Haystoun from his uncle, Sir Duncan Hay of Smithfield, in 1965.
Aidan Mark Sprot was born on 17 June 1919, the son of Major Mark Sprot of Riddell, in the county of Peebles. His mother, Meliora, was the daughter of Sir John Hay of Smithfield, ninth baronet, of Haystoun House in the same county.
The Hays of Smithfield, from whom he descended via his mother, are a collateral branch of the Hays of Yester, later Marquises of Tweeddale. The family descends from a younger son of the second Lord Hay of Yester, who was killed at Flodden in 1513, holders of a baronetcy created in 1635. The famous American poet and statesman, John Milton Hay, belongs to this family. When Colonel Sprot’s uncle, Sir Duncan, died in 1965, the title passed briefly succeeded by an elderly cousin, Sir Bache Hay of Smithfield, who was the last of the line.
Sir Duncan left the family property to his nephew, Colonel Sprot. Some years ago, he made the estate over to his niece, Mrs Mary Coltman, the daughter of his sister Celia, who had married the well known politician Viscount Whitelaw.
see also - SPROT, Maj John (1910-2010) (google.com)
