Christopher Beckett, 4th Baron Grimthorpe

For other people with the same name, see Christopher Beckett (disambiguation).

Christopher John Beckett, 4th Baron Grimthorpe OBE, DL (1915-2003) was a soldier, company director, landowner and peer of the turf.

Christopher John Beckett was born 16 September 1915, eldest son of Ralph William Ernest Beckett, 3rd Baron 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 and Mary de Bathe, daughter of Sir Henry de Bathe, 4th Baronet.

Personal life

Christopher Beckett was educated at Eton.

In 17 February 1954, he married Lady Elizabeth Lumley, daughter of the Roger Lumley, 11th Earl of Scarbrough, of Lumley Castle, 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.

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 representative 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.

Lord Grimthorpe was appointed OBE (military) in 1958.

A memorial service was held at York Minster on 16 July 2003. He is survived by Lady Grimthorpe, two sons, Edward John and Ralph Daniel Beckett, and a daughter, Harriet.

Military career

Lord Grimthorpe, of Westow Hall, near York, had a distinguished military career, retiring from the Army in 1968 as a Brigadier.

He was Colonel Commanding the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers from 1955 to 1958 and Brigadier Royal Armoured Corps Western Command from 1961 to 1964. He was deputy commander of Malta and Libya from 1964 to 1967 and served as an ADC to the Queen.

In retirement he was a Deputy Lieutenant] for North Yorkshire from 1969 and Colonel of the 9th/12th Lancers from 1973 to 1978.

External links

• Obituary