The Hon. Mrs Keith Rous, (1919-2002)
Michael Rhodes
2002, was, briefly, the Countess of Stradbroke, wife of the 5th Earl.
Her husband succeeded his brother, in 1983, as 5th Earl of Stradbroke,
and died four days later. His widow chose not to use the style *Mary,
Countess of Stradbroke* and retained the style by which she had been
known for forty years, *the Hon Mrs Keith Rous*.
She was born 14 April, 1919, as (April) Mary Asquith, eldest of the
four daughters of the Hon. Arthur Melland Asquith, DSO, (1883-1939),
and his wife, the former Hon. Betty Constance Manners, (died 1962),
second daughter of the 3rd Baron Manners.
Her father was the third son of Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of
Oxford & Asquith, KG, PC, Prime Minister & First Lord of the Treasury,
1908-16.
She was educated at home, and at Paris, Vienna & Florence.
Her sisters were,(i) Jean, (b.1921), who married Lawrence Leif
Toynbee, the artist; (ii) Susan, (b. 1923), married Evelyn Basil
Boothby, CMG; & (iii) Christine, married John Hatch Clark.
She married 19 July, 1943, as his second wife, Lieut. the Hon
(William) Keith Rous, (1907-83), already the father of two sons, & the
second son of the 3rd Earl of Stradbroke, KCMG, CB, CVO, CBE, VD, TD,
(1862-1947).
The marriage produced a son, John (b. 1950), and four daughters,
Christine, (b. 1946), Henrietta (b. 1947), Mary Anne, (who died in
infancy), and Virginia, (b. 1954).
On her husband's death in 1983, the earldom of Stradbroke (cr 1821),
the Barony of Rous (cr 1796), the Viscountcy of Dunwich (cr 1821), &
Baronetcy (1660), passed to Mrs Rous's step-son, Robert Keith Rous,
(b. 1937), who had lived for many years in Australia.
The 6th Earl, who lists "making babies" among his recreations in Who's
Who, has seven children from his first marriage, and a further eight
children from his second marriage.
Mrs Rous's home was Clovelly Court, Bideford, North Devon.
The funeral takes place at All Saints Church, Clovelly, on Monday 22
April, 2002, at 12.30 p.m.
...Michael Rhodes.