Rancher and Peer

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 175, 9 July 1932, Page 7 (Supplement)

Rancher and Peer

Late Earl of Egmont

VICTIM OF SOCIAL SNOBBERY.

SACRIFICE TO HELP SON.

Remarkable Career ... . From Logcabin to Castle . Inherited Title as Tenth Earl * «, . Title Disputed, but Rancher Wins.

The death of a remarkable man, the Earl of Egmont, “the rancher peer,” occurred on May 16. He succeeded to the title only three years ago. His death was the result of a motor accident. When the Earl of Egmont died his only son, Viscount Perceval, reared on a Canadian ranch, was made head of an ancient house and the loneliest boy of 18 years in the whole wide world. He and his father were true friends. They had no near relatives. They had very few close acquaintances. Mrs. Perceval died when the new carl was a year old. Lord Egmont’s career was a most remarkable one. Three years ago he was Mr. Frederick Perceval, an unknown rancher, living with his son in a log cabin at Priddis, near Calgary, Alberta. Here he lived the hard life of the plains, working from dawn to dusk. He was born at Aeocks Green, Birmingham, 59 years ago, but his chances of succeeding to the peerage seemed infinitesimal, and ho was taken to Canada at the age of eight. He married a Canadian woman in Montreal in 1911. In 1929 a distant cousin, the ninth Earl of Egmont, died, and the Alberta rancher inherited the title as tenth earl, his son becoming Viscount Perceval. His title was disputed by two other claimants, an optician and a baker, but after a six months’ inquiry Mr. Justice Eve decided 'n favour of the rancher. Secluded Life in the Castle. So Lord Egmont came from the prairies to take up the life and duties of au English peer, residing in the stately family home, Avon Castle, Ringwood, Hampshire. The castle is surrounded by an estate of 1500 acres. Troubles over the disputed succession, large death duties, and the management of the estate had to be faced at first. “I am so worried,” the carl declared, “that I wish I was back chapping wood on the ranch.”

Finally the earl and his son dispensed with the greater part of the staff, locked the park gates, and lived a secluded life in the castle of 43 rooms, cooking their own meals and attending to all their own needs as they had done in their happy days on the Canadian ranch. Viscount Perceval, the new earl, who is now 18, is a sturdy, fearless youth, able to rope, throw and brand a steer, or break in a horse. From time to time pictures and other property had to be sold to help to keep things going, and Avon Castle itself has been for some time in the market. Cold “County” People.

The hearts of the people of Bingwood go out to the lonely young earl to-day. Kingwood does not know him very well. The “county” never called, and father and son were- I>oo unpretentious to call on the “county." About once a week they would walk into Kingwood, and they responded to the friendly talk of the villagers. But, on the whole, they remained an isolated and rather pathetic pair. The gates of Avon Castle were opened On the day of the earl’s death to but two callers, the agent of the estate and the representative of a firm of solicitors. When a journalist telephoned the call was answered by the young earl himself. With a perceptible tremor in his boyish voice he said no one could see Lord Egmont. The inquirer did not tell him that he recognised his voice. The click of the receiver as he hung it up seemed to emphasise his loneliness. The death of Lord Egmont, says the “Daily Express,” has put an end to a drama of callous social snobbery that has been played out here in the past three years. The facts should bring a blush to the cheek of English “county” hospitality.