4th Lord Grimthorpe, OBE, DL (1915-2003)
Michael Rhodes
landowner, peer of the turf, died 6 July, 2003, aged 87.
Lord Grimthorpe, of Westow Hall, near York, had a distinguished
military career, retiring from the Army in 1968 as a Brigadier. He was
deputy commander of Malta and Libya from 1964-67 and served as an ADC
to the Queen.
He was Colonel Commanding 9th Queen's Royal Lancers, 1955-58, Colonel
9th/12th Lancers (PWO) from 1973, Brigadier Royal Armoured Corps
Western Command, 1961-64, and served as a Deputy Lieutenant for North
Yorkshire from 1969.
Christopher John Beckett was born 16 September, 1915, eldest son of
the 3rd Lord Grimthorpe, TD, (1891-1963), a partner in the banking
firm of Beckett and Co., of Leeds, Yorkshire, by his first wife, Mary
Alice, daughter of Colonel Mervyn Archdale, 12th Lancers.
Christopher Beckett was educated at Eton.
He succeeded his father as fourth Baron and eighth Baronet, 1963.
Lord Grimthorpe was a director of Thirsk Race Committee, and was a
member of the Jockey Club.
His father, of Easthorpe Hall, Malton, ran a stud in North Yorkshire
where he - and his second wife Angela -bred Fragrant Mac which won the
Scottish Grand National in 1952. The best horse they owned however was
Fortina, winner of the 1947 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
He also served as a consultant and sales respresentative with Sir
Alfred McAlpine and Son Ltd.
In 1973 he joined the board of Yorkshire Post Newspapers where his
uncle, the Hon Rupert Beckett, had been chairman for 30 years,
1920-50.
In February, 1954, he married Lady Elizabeth Lumley, daughter of the
Earl of Scarbrough, Lord Chamberlain to the Queen.
The wedding took place at the Queen's Chapel, Marlborough Gate,
sometimes called the Marlborough House Chapel, by special permission
of the sovereign, and the wedding reception took place at St James's
Palace. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, & the
Duchess of Gloucester attended.
In 1973 Lady Grimthorpe joined the household of the Queen Mother as a
Lady of the Bedchamber, and remained in that post at Clarence House
until the death of Her Majesty last year.
Lord Grimthorpe was appointed OBE (military) in 1958.
He is survived by Lady Grimthorpe, two sons, Edward John and Ralph
Daniel, and a daughter, Harriet.
The peerage and baronetcy now devolve upon the elder son, Edward, born
20 November, 1954, who married in May, 1992, Mrs Carey Elisabeth
McEwen, daughter of Mr & Mrs Robin Graham, by whom he has a son &
heir, born 28 April, 1993.
A private funeral is followed by a thanksgiving service on Wednesday
16 July, 2003, at York Minster.
--
Michael Rhodes