Henry Milles-Lade, 5th Earl Sondes
Encyclopedia
Henry George Herbert Milles-Lade, 5th Earl Sondes (1 May 1940 – 2 December 1996), styled Viscount Throwley between 1941 and 1970, was a British peer. He inherited the title upon the death of his father in 1970 and the peerage became extinct when he died without an heir.
The fifth earl was considered a colourful character. In his pre-teen years he was a page at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
but was later expelled from Eton College
for operating gambling books. He owned racehorses and greyhounds, but his strongest connection with sport was with Kent's only professional football
club, Gillingham F.C.
, where he served as vice-chairman of the board of directors. Upon his retirement from the role, a large clock was erected at the club's Priestfield Stadium
and dubbed the "Lord Sondes Clock" in his honour. The clock was removed as part of ground redevelopment work in the 1990s and its current whereabouts are unknown.
The Earl was married four times. His wives included the New York socialite Sharon Hammond, whom he married in 1981 and divorced in 1984, and another American whom he married in 1986, Phyllis Kane Schmertz, who survived him and inherited Lees Court, which she transformed into an agricultural business growing pharmaceutical and biofuel crops. The Earl was buried in the church in the village of Sheldwich in Swale
.
The fifth earl was considered a colourful character. In his pre-teen years he was a page at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
but was later expelled from Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
for operating gambling books. He owned racehorses and greyhounds, but his strongest connection with sport was with Kent's only professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club, Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, where he served as vice-chairman of the board of directors. Upon his retirement from the role, a large clock was erected at the club's Priestfield Stadium
Priestfield Stadium
Priestfield Stadium is a football stadium in Gillingham, Kent...
and dubbed the "Lord Sondes Clock" in his honour. The clock was removed as part of ground redevelopment work in the 1990s and its current whereabouts are unknown.
The Earl was married four times. His wives included the New York socialite Sharon Hammond, whom he married in 1981 and divorced in 1984, and another American whom he married in 1986, Phyllis Kane Schmertz, who survived him and inherited Lees Court, which she transformed into an agricultural business growing pharmaceutical and biofuel crops. The Earl was buried in the church in the village of Sheldwich in Swale
Swale
Swale is a local government district with borough status in Kent, England. Its council is based in Sittingbourne. The borough is named after the narrow channel called The Swale, a channel that separates the mainland of Kent from the Isle of Sheppey, and which occupies the central part of the...
.