Robin Russell, 14th Duke of Bedford
Encyclopedia
Henry Robin Ian Russell, 14th Duke of Bedford, DL
(21 January 1940 – 13 June 2003) was a British peer. He became better known to the public than most of his ancestors by appearing in three series of the reality television
programme Country House, made by Tiger Aspect Productions
for BBC Two
, which in turn inspired Monarch of the Glen. He was born at the Ritz
in London to John Ian Robert Russell, Lord Howland (later 13th Duke) and his first wife, Clare Gwendolyn Bridgman.
was educated at Western Province Preparatory School and then the Diocesan College
in South Africa
. His father, the future 13th Duke of Bedford, had gone to South Africa in 1948 to farm in the Paarl
area. He continued his education at Institut Le Rosey
in Switzerland
and at Harvard University
, Cambridge
, Massachusetts
. In the early 1970s he took over the running of the Woburn Estate from his father, a pioneer of the commercialisation of country houses, who retired to Monaco
. The Duke continued with the modernisation of the estate, and created a leading golf and country club business called Woburn Golf and Country Club
. However his plans to develop a major theme park at Woburn failed to come to fruition. He suffered a severe stroke on 21 February 1988 when he was aged just 48, which he was not expected to survive but did. The stroke lead to a more relaxed nature and much less of a workaholic over his latter years. With his wife, the former Henrietta Joan Tiarks, he appeared in the BBC series Country House, detailing daily life at Woburn Abbey
, the Bedfords' ancestral home in Bedfordshire
, England
. He succeeded his father to the dukedom on 25 October 2002, but died after another stroke in Tavistock Intensive Care Unit, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, 2003. This made him the shortest lived Duke of Bedford. He and his wife had already handed over control of Woburn Abbey to his son Andrew in 2001.
in London. They had three sons:
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(21 January 1940 – 13 June 2003) was a British peer. He became better known to the public than most of his ancestors by appearing in three series of the reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
programme Country House, made by Tiger Aspect Productions
Tiger Aspect Productions
Tiger Aspect Productions is a British television production company, particularly noted for its situation comedies. Co-founded by producer Peter Bennett-Jones, its productions have included popular hits such as The Vicar of Dibley and Mr. Bean...
for BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
, which in turn inspired Monarch of the Glen. He was born at the Ritz
Ritz Hotel
The Ritz London is a luxury 5-star hotel located in Piccadilly and overlooking Green Park in London.- History :Swiss hotelier César Ritz, former manager of the Savoy Hotel, opened the hotel on 24 May 1906...
in London to John Ian Robert Russell, Lord Howland (later 13th Duke) and his first wife, Clare Gwendolyn Bridgman.
Biography
The Duke of BedfordDuke of Bedford
thumb|right|240px|William Russell, 1st Duke of BedfordDuke of Bedford is a title that has been created five times in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1414 in favour of Henry IV's third son, John, who later served as regent of France. He was made Earl of Kendal at the same time...
was educated at Western Province Preparatory School and then the Diocesan College
Diocesan College
The Diocesan College, or Bishops as it is more commonly known, is an independent, all-boys school situated in the suburb of Rondebosch in Cape Town, South Africa...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. His father, the future 13th Duke of Bedford, had gone to South Africa in 1948 to farm in the Paarl
Paarl
Paarl is a town with 191,013 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Its the third oldest European settlement in the Republic of South Africa and the largest town in the Cape Winelands. Due to the growth of the Mbekweni township, it is now a de facto urban unit with Wellington...
area. He continued his education at Institut Le Rosey
Institut Le Rosey
Institut Le Rosey, commonly referred to as Le Rosey or simply Rosey, is a school, in Gstaad, Switzerland. It is described as one of the most prestigious boarding schools in the world. The school was founded by Paul-Émile Carnal in 1880 on the site of the 14th-century Château du Rosey near the town...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. In the early 1970s he took over the running of the Woburn Estate from his father, a pioneer of the commercialisation of country houses, who retired to Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
. The Duke continued with the modernisation of the estate, and created a leading golf and country club business called Woburn Golf and Country Club
Woburn Golf and Country Club
Woburn Golf and Country Club is located near Milton Keynes in England, about fifty miles north of central London. There are three courses, the "Duke's Course" which opened in 1976, the "Duchess Course", which followed in 1978, and the "Marquess Course", which dates from 2000...
. However his plans to develop a major theme park at Woburn failed to come to fruition. He suffered a severe stroke on 21 February 1988 when he was aged just 48, which he was not expected to survive but did. The stroke lead to a more relaxed nature and much less of a workaholic over his latter years. With his wife, the former Henrietta Joan Tiarks, he appeared in the BBC series Country House, detailing daily life at Woburn Abbey
Woburn Abbey
Woburn Abbey , near Woburn, Bedfordshire, England, is a country house, the seat of the Duke of Bedford and the location of the Woburn Safari Park.- Pre-20th century :...
, the Bedfords' ancestral home in Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He succeeded his father to the dukedom on 25 October 2002, but died after another stroke in Tavistock Intensive Care Unit, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, 2003. This made him the shortest lived Duke of Bedford. He and his wife had already handed over control of Woburn Abbey to his son Andrew in 2001.
Family and children
The Marquess of Tavistock married Henrietta Joan Tiarks, daughter of Henry Frederic Tiarks and Ina Florence Marshman Bell, on 20 June 1961 at St Clement DanesSt Clement Danes
St Clement Danes is a church in the City of Westminster, London. It is situated outside the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand. The current building was completed in 1682 by Sir Christopher Wren and it now functions as the central church of the Royal Air Force.The church is sometimes claimed to...
in London. They had three sons:
- Andrew Ian Henry Russell, 15th Duke of BedfordAndrew Russell, 15th Duke of BedfordAndrew Ian Henry Russell, 15th Duke of Bedford , is the son of Henry Robin Ian Russell, 14th Duke of Bedford and his wife, Henrietta Joan Tiarks.-Biography:...
(b. 30 March 1962) - Lord Robin Loel Hastings Russell (b. 12 August 1963)
- Lord James Edward Herbrand Russell (b. 11 February 1975)
Titles
- The Honourable Henry 'Robin' Russell (January 1940 – August 1940)
- Lord Howland (1940–1953)
- Marquess of Tavistock (1953–2002)
- His Grace The Duke of BedfordDuke of Bedfordthumb|right|240px|William Russell, 1st Duke of BedfordDuke of Bedford is a title that has been created five times in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1414 in favour of Henry IV's third son, John, who later served as regent of France. He was made Earl of Kendal at the same time...
(2002–2003)
Honours
- Deputy LieutenantDeputy LieutenantIn the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of BedfordshireBedfordshireBedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
(1985–2003)