Postmaster pleased to be a peer

Press, 19 February 1986, Page 10

Postmaster pleased to be a peer

NZPA-PA London A retired Tasmanian village postmaster was confirmed yesterday as the Uth Earl of Dunmore. Kenneth Randolph Murray was declared as the authentic Uth Earl after a five-year search through records. Lord Dunmore, aged 72, a widower, said, “I am delighted. I love Britain and hope to be over later in the year to meet my friends in the House of Lords.” As well as the main title Lord Dunmore, who lives in the tiny village of Gravelly Beach, also becomes Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillemett, and Viscount Fincastle.

The title passed to him five years ago after the death of his elder brother, Reginald, the 10th Earl, but it has taken until now to eliminate a rival claim to the succession. He is the latest in a family line that stretches

back to the twelfth century. He is the great, great grandson of the fourth Earl — who was a friend of the United States President, George Washington. Lord Dunmore’s side of the Murray family first moved to Australia from Scotland in the 1850 s. Proving the rightful heir to the title has meant five years of hard work for a researcher, Hugh Peskett, who traced Ronald Reagan’s ancestors to Ireland. As Lord Dunmore relaxed on the other side of the world he promised a trip to Scotland before the end of the year. “I have been there before, but it will be marvellous to travel around with my new honour,” he said. He will not become a regular in the House of Lords. “Britain’s far too cold for me. I like to be able to sit on the beach for most of the year,” he said.