Richard Bridgeman, 7th Earl of Bradford
Encyclopedia
Richard Thomas Orlando Bridgeman, 7th Earl of Bradford (born 3 October 1947) is a British peer
.
and Mary Willoughby Montgomery. He was educated at St. Ronan's School
, Hawkhurst
, and Harrow School
, just outside London
, and Trinity College, Cambridge
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in 1969 and a Master of Arts
in 1973. He succeeded to his father's title in 1981.
He owns Porters English Restaurant in London's Covent Garden
, which he created in 1979, and Covent Garden Grill next door. Because the 6th Earl left the family with large death duties, Bradford gifted his home Weston Park
and 1,000 acres to the nation in 1986, with the support of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, to the Weston Park Foundation. From 1986 to 1999 he was Chairman of Weston Park Enterprises. As of 1998, he is Chairman of VIP Internet Ltd, a website design company, which also operates its own websites, such as Stately-Homes.com and Virtual-London.com.
In 2001, he was a candidate for political office, running as a candidate for the UK Independence Party, he obtained 5.2% support (2,315 votes) in Stafford
, losing to David Kidney
, but achieving the 4th best result for the party. He ran again for UKIP in the European Elections for the West Midlands region
in 2004, coming eighth, seven candidates were elected.
Lord Bradford is active in warning people about the sale of false titles of nobility
.
bookmaker Benjamin Miller. They divorced in 2006. They have four children:
On 30 August 2008, he married Dr. Penelope Anne Law, a Consultant Obstetrician at Hillingdon Hospital, who also has a private obstetric practice at The Portland Hospital.
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
.
Biography
Richard Bradford is the son of Gerald Bridgeman, 6th Earl of BradfordGerald Bridgeman, 6th Earl of Bradford
Gerald Michael Orlando Bridgeman, 6th Earl of Bradford, TD, DL, JP , styled Viscount Newport between 1915 and 1957, was a British peer and soldier.-Background:...
and Mary Willoughby Montgomery. He was educated at St. Ronan's School
St. Ronan's School
Saint Ronan's School is an independent co-educational preparatory school for boys and girls from 3 to 13 years located near Hawkhurst in Kent, England. It currently has about 200 boys and 100 girls, all of them day pupils, although boarding is available from time to time...
, Hawkhurst
Hawkhurst
Hawkhurst is a village and civil parish in the borough of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. The parish lies to the south-east of Tunbridge Wells. Hawkhurst itself is virtually two villages...
, and Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, just outside London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1969 and a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
in 1973. He succeeded to his father's title in 1981.
He owns Porters English Restaurant in London's Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
, which he created in 1979, and Covent Garden Grill next door. Because the 6th Earl left the family with large death duties, Bradford gifted his home Weston Park
Weston Park
Weston Park is a country house in Weston-under-Lizard, Staffordshire, England, set in more than of park landscaped by Capability Brown. The park is located north-west of Wolverhampton, and north-east of Telford, close to the border with Shropshire...
and 1,000 acres to the nation in 1986, with the support of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, to the Weston Park Foundation. From 1986 to 1999 he was Chairman of Weston Park Enterprises. As of 1998, he is Chairman of VIP Internet Ltd, a website design company, which also operates its own websites, such as Stately-Homes.com and Virtual-London.com.
In 2001, he was a candidate for political office, running as a candidate for the UK Independence Party, he obtained 5.2% support (2,315 votes) in Stafford
Stafford (UK Parliament constituency)
Stafford is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. The sitting MP is the Conservative Jeremy Lefroy....
, losing to David Kidney
David Kidney
David Neil Kidney is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Stafford from 1997 to 2010.-Early life:...
, but achieving the 4th best result for the party. He ran again for UKIP in the European Elections for the West Midlands region
West Midlands (European Parliament constituency)
West Midlands is a constituency of the European Parliament. For 2009 it elected 6 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation. The constituency will also elect a "virtual MEP" who will be able to sit in the Parliament if the Treaty of Lisbon comes into effect...
in 2004, coming eighth, seven candidates were elected.
Lord Bradford is active in warning people about the sale of false titles of nobility
False titles of nobility
False titles of nobility are supposed titles of nobility that have been fabricated and are not recognised by any government and were not so recognised in the past, even in countries in which titles of nobility once existed or still exist. They have received an increasing amount of press attention,...
.
Family
On 15 September 1979, he married Joanne Elizabeth Miller, younger daughter of MayfairMayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
bookmaker Benjamin Miller. They divorced in 2006. They have four children:
- Alexander Michael Orlando Bridgeman, Viscount Newport (born 6 September 1980)
- The Hon. Henry Gerald Orlando Bridgeman (born 18 April 1982)
- The Hon. Benjamin Thomas Orlando Bridgeman (born 7 February 1987)
- Lady Alicia Rose Bridgeman (born 27 December 1990)
On 30 August 2008, he married Dr. Penelope Anne Law, a Consultant Obstetrician at Hillingdon Hospital, who also has a private obstetric practice at The Portland Hospital.
Ancestry
Works
- My Private Parts and The Stuffed Parrot, (1984)
- The Eccentric Cookbook, (1985)
- Stately Secrets, (1994)
- Porters English Cookery Bible - Ancient and Modern, with Carol Wilson, (2004)
- Porters Seasonal Celebrations Cookbook, with Carol Wilson, (2007)
External links
- Porters English Restaurant
- Fake Titles - a website run by Lord Bradford
- VIP Internet website
- Stately Homes website
- Restaurant Guide website