Lady Rose McLaren
Encyclopedia
The Lady Rose Mary Primrose McLaren (27 July 1919–1 November 2005) was a British
aristocrat, the fourth daughter of the 6th Marquess of Anglesey
.
The Paget family (the Marquesses of Anglesey), who lived at Plas Newydd
and Beaudesert
in Staffordshire were a close-knit family particularly noted for the beauty of their daughters. Lady Rose's parents were famous and generous hosts and led an unstuffy life for the times. In her early years Rose's world (which was caught in her father's home movies) was one in which her nursery teas were served by white-gloved footmen.
Lady Rose Paget, as she was before her marriage, was the fourth of five daughters — her eldest sister Elizabeth was thought by many to be the most beautiful Englishwoman of her generation — and along with another sister, Caroline, shared the dark good looks of their mother (the former Lady Marjorie Manners, eldest daughter of the 8th Duke of Rutland
). Her brother is the 7th Marquess of Anglesey
. Another of Rose's sisters Mary, was brain-damaged, and Rose made herself responsible for her sister's welfare until her death in 1996.
In her younger days Plas Newydd played host to a lively artistic group; amongst these was Rex Whistler
who was in love with Rose's elder sister Caroline. From 1936 – 1937, Whistler painted for her father, for the dining room of the house, an enormous mural (this was in fact, a 58 ft (17.7 m) wide painting which was painted on a single piece of canvas).
After being largely educated at home, Rose went on to live a varied and unconventional life, being at different times:
When she was sixteen, Rose fell hopelessly in love with the dancer Sir Frederick Ashton
— something he discouraged — whilst later remaining friends with her. At one point he returned her letters to her — having first corrected her spelling!
Rose was twice engaged to the 8th Duke of Wellington; however it seems that he was rather too conventional for Rose's free spirit and in 1940 Rose married Squadron Leader The Hon. John Francis McLaren
, the second son of the 2nd Baron Aberconway
. The marriage was an open one, which ended with his untimely death in 1953. The McLarens had two daughters, Victoria & Harriet.
In her widowhood, Rose lived a full life and had many affairs. Through her friendship with the fabulously outrageous lesbian, Muriel Belcher
(who George Melly called "a benevolent witch"), she was drawn into and became part of an artistic, but quite dissolute set who were habitués of Soho
and in particular the Colony Room. It was here that she became friends with the artist Francis Bacon
and his biographer Dan Farson
.
At about this time she established her famous florist's business, which operated from the basement of her house in Chelsea
. The business was successful and along with her partner, Pamela Forster (the daughter of Lord Forster of Harraby
and a former employee of Constance Spry
), they supplied the flowers for the wedding of her friend Princess Margaret in 1960.
Rose gave up the business in 1975 and returned to Wales, to Old Bodnod - a house on the Aberconway estate which had been given to her husband by his father; this house was later let for a short period to American actress Katharine Hepburn
, who was at the time filming nearby.
In later life she threw herself into country life and amongst other things was:
Unlike her aunt, Lady Diana Cooper, she was a careful driver and even into her eighties was a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
aristocrat, the fourth daughter of the 6th Marquess of Anglesey
Charles Paget, 6th Marquess of Anglesey
Charles Henry Alexander Paget, 6th Marquess of Anglesey GCVO was a British peer.Paget was born in 1885, the son of Lord Alexander Paget, was educated at Eton and the Royal Military College Sandhurst and in 1905 he succeeded as Marquess of Anglesey on the demise of his childless cousin, the 5th...
.
The Paget family (the Marquesses of Anglesey), who lived at Plas Newydd
Plas Newydd
Plas Newydd, located in Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey, Wales, is the country seat of the Marquess of Anglesey. The family's former principal seat at Beaudesert, Staffordshire, was sold and demolished in the 1930s....
and Beaudesert
Beaudesert (house)
Beaudesert was an estate and stately home on the southern edge of Cannock Chase in Staffordshire. It was one of the family seats of the Paget family, the Marquesses of Anglesey...
in Staffordshire were a close-knit family particularly noted for the beauty of their daughters. Lady Rose's parents were famous and generous hosts and led an unstuffy life for the times. In her early years Rose's world (which was caught in her father's home movies) was one in which her nursery teas were served by white-gloved footmen.
Lady Rose Paget, as she was before her marriage, was the fourth of five daughters — her eldest sister Elizabeth was thought by many to be the most beautiful Englishwoman of her generation — and along with another sister, Caroline, shared the dark good looks of their mother (the former Lady Marjorie Manners, eldest daughter of the 8th Duke of Rutland
Henry Manners, 8th Duke of Rutland
Henry John Brinsley Manners, 8th Duke of Rutland KG TD , known as Henry Manners until 1888 and styled Marquess of Granby between 1888 and 1906, was a British peer and Conservative politician.-Background:...
). Her brother is the 7th Marquess of Anglesey
George Paget, 7th Marquess of Anglesey
George Charles Henry Victor Paget, 7th Marquess of Anglesey DL FSA FRHistS FRSL , styled Earl of Uxbridge until 1947, is a British peer....
. Another of Rose's sisters Mary, was brain-damaged, and Rose made herself responsible for her sister's welfare until her death in 1996.
In her younger days Plas Newydd played host to a lively artistic group; amongst these was Rex Whistler
Rex Whistler
Reginald John 'Rex' Whistler was a British artist, designer and illustrator.-Biography:Rex Whistler was born in Eltham, Kent, the son of Henry and Helen Frances Mary Whistler...
who was in love with Rose's elder sister Caroline. From 1936 – 1937, Whistler painted for her father, for the dining room of the house, an enormous mural (this was in fact, a 58 ft (17.7 m) wide painting which was painted on a single piece of canvas).
After being largely educated at home, Rose went on to live a varied and unconventional life, being at different times:
- A ballerinaBallerinaA ballerina is a title used to describe a principal female professional ballet dancer in a large company; the male equivalent to this title is danseur or ballerino...
- A florist
- A land girlWomen's Land ArmyThe Women's Land Army was a British civilian organisation created during the First and Second World Wars to work in agriculture replacing men called up to the military. Women who worked for the WLA were commonly known as Land Girls...
- A countrywoman
When she was sixteen, Rose fell hopelessly in love with the dancer Sir Frederick Ashton
Frederick Ashton
Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton OM, CH, CBE was a leading international dancer and choreographer. He is most noted as the founder choreographer of The Royal Ballet in London, but also worked as a director and choreographer of opera, film and theatre revues.-Early life:Ashton was born at...
— something he discouraged — whilst later remaining friends with her. At one point he returned her letters to her — having first corrected her spelling!
Rose was twice engaged to the 8th Duke of Wellington; however it seems that he was rather too conventional for Rose's free spirit and in 1940 Rose married Squadron Leader The Hon. John Francis McLaren
John Francis McLaren
John Francis McLaren was a Royal Air Force officer. He was the younger son of Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway and Christabel MacNaghten.-Career:...
, the second son of the 2nd Baron Aberconway
Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway
Henry Duncan McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway CBE was a British politician, horticulturalist and industrialist. He was the son of Charles McLaren, 1st Baron Aberconway and Laura Pochin.- Education :...
. The marriage was an open one, which ended with his untimely death in 1953. The McLarens had two daughters, Victoria & Harriet.
In her widowhood, Rose lived a full life and had many affairs. Through her friendship with the fabulously outrageous lesbian, Muriel Belcher
Muriel Belcher
Muriel Belcher was the founder and proprietress of a private drinking club known as the Colony Room at 41 Dean Street, Soho, London....
(who George Melly called "a benevolent witch"), she was drawn into and became part of an artistic, but quite dissolute set who were habitués of Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
and in particular the Colony Room. It was here that she became friends with the artist Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon (painter)
Francis Bacon , was an Irish-born British figurative painter known for his bold, austere, graphic and emotionally raw imagery. Bacon's painterly but abstract figures typically appear isolated in glass or steel geometrical cages set against flat, nondescript backgrounds...
and his biographer Dan Farson
Daniel Farson
Daniel Negley Farson a British writer and broadcaster, was a popular television personality and prominent public figure in the late 1950s and early 1960s.-Early life:...
.
At about this time she established her famous florist's business, which operated from the basement of her house in Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
. The business was successful and along with her partner, Pamela Forster (the daughter of Lord Forster of Harraby
Baron Forster of Harraby
Baron Forster of Harraby, of Beckenham in the County of Kent, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 16 July 1959 for Sir John Forster. The title became extinct on his death on 24 July 1972....
and a former employee of Constance Spry
Constance Spry
Constance Spry was a famous British educator, florist and author in the mid-20th century.- Background :Constance Spry was born Constance Fletcher in Derby in 1886, eldest child and only daughter of George Fletcher and his wife Henrietta Maria Fletcher...
), they supplied the flowers for the wedding of her friend Princess Margaret in 1960.
Rose gave up the business in 1975 and returned to Wales, to Old Bodnod - a house on the Aberconway estate which had been given to her husband by his father; this house was later let for a short period to American actress Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
, who was at the time filming nearby.
In later life she threw herself into country life and amongst other things was:
- County chairwoman of MacmillanMacmillan Cancer SupportMacmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest British charities and provides specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer....
Nurses - Vice-president of the Welsh Opera in north Wales
- President of ConwayConwyConwy is a walled market town and community in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales. The town, which faces Deganwy across the River Conwy, formerly lay in Gwynedd and prior to that in Caernarfonshire. Conwy has a population of 14,208...
's Churchill Club - President of her local agricultural club
Unlike her aunt, Lady Diana Cooper, she was a careful driver and even into her eighties was a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists
Institute of Advanced Motorists
The Institute of Advanced Motorists is a charity based in the United Kingdom and serving nine countries, whose objective is to improve car driving and motorcycle riding standards, and so enhance road safety, through the proper use of a system of car and motorcycle control based on Roadcraft...
.
Sources
- Obituary — The TimesThe TimesThe Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
— 2 December 2005 - Obituary (online) The Daily TelegraphThe Daily TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
— 5 November 2005