Edward Chichester, 6th Marquess of Donegall
Encyclopedia
Edward Arthur Donald St George Hamilton Chichester, 6th Marquess of Donegall (born 7 October 1903, died 24 May 1975) succeeded to the title on the death of his father in 1904. His other titles included those of Viscount Chichester and Baron of Belfast, Earl of Donegall, Earl of Belfast, and Baron Fisherwick. He was also the Hereditary Lord High Admiral of Lough Neagh.
After being educated at Eton
and Christ Church, Oxford
, he adopted a career in journalism and for many years wrote a column for the Sunday Dispatch under the title "Almost in Confidence". He made regular contributions to the Sunday News and Sunday Graphic, and held at the same time a staff position on the Daily Sketch.
As a journalist he travelled extensively, notably covering the winter sports in St Moritz, Switzerland. He was a passenger on the maiden trip of the Queen Mary
, returning on the Hindenburg
.
The Marquess had a lifelong interest in aviation and owned his own aircraft which he used for chasing up news stories. He covered the Spanish Civil War
and was a distinguished British war correspondent throughout the Second World War. His interest extended to cars and he was President of the Middlesex County Automobile Club
from 1964 until his death in 1975.
In 1949 he became a disc jockey with the BBC and in 1956 ran a Dixieland band and a jazz club in Kensington
. He was also the owner of a record company.
He was a long-time member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London, and edited its magazine, the Sherlock Holmes Journal, for many years. In that context and others, he told friends and acquaintances not to stand on ceremony ("My Lord Marquess") but not to use his first names either: "Call me Don!"
In 1943 he married Gladys Jean Combe, younger daughter of Captain Christian Combe. He parted from his wife after 10 years, and in 1962 moved to Switzerland. In 1968 the Marquess was granted a divorce under Swiss law and in that same year he married Mrs Maureen McKenzie, daughter of Major G C Schofield, MC, of Birkdale
, Lancashire.
At the time of his death the Marquess was working on his autobiography which he planned to call "Almost in Confidence", after the newspaper column he had run. Regrettably it had not reached publication stage.
He died in Switzerland on 24 May 1975 at the age of 71.
After being educated at Eton
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"....
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, he adopted a career in journalism and for many years wrote a column for the Sunday Dispatch under the title "Almost in Confidence". He made regular contributions to the Sunday News and Sunday Graphic, and held at the same time a staff position on the Daily Sketch.
As a journalist he travelled extensively, notably covering the winter sports in St Moritz, Switzerland. He was a passenger on the maiden trip of the Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that sailed primarily in the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line...
, returning on the Hindenburg
LZ 129 Hindenburg
LZ 129 Hindenburg was a large German commercial passenger-carrying rigid airship, the lead ship of the Hindenburg class, the longest class of flying machine and the largest airship by envelope volume...
.
The Marquess had a lifelong interest in aviation and owned his own aircraft which he used for chasing up news stories. He covered the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
and was a distinguished British war correspondent throughout the Second World War. His interest extended to cars and he was President of the Middlesex County Automobile Club
Middlesex County Automobile Club
The Middlesex County Automobile Club is a motor club based in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire.-Formation:The club has its origins in early 1905, and the club records show that a small group of young businessmen and professionals met at The Fox Hotel, Palmers Green, north London, and decided to form a...
from 1964 until his death in 1975.
In 1949 he became a disc jockey with the BBC and in 1956 ran a Dixieland band and a jazz club in Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
. He was also the owner of a record company.
He was a long-time member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London, and edited its magazine, the Sherlock Holmes Journal, for many years. In that context and others, he told friends and acquaintances not to stand on ceremony ("My Lord Marquess") but not to use his first names either: "Call me Don!"
In 1943 he married Gladys Jean Combe, younger daughter of Captain Christian Combe. He parted from his wife after 10 years, and in 1962 moved to Switzerland. In 1968 the Marquess was granted a divorce under Swiss law and in that same year he married Mrs Maureen McKenzie, daughter of Major G C Schofield, MC, of Birkdale
Birkdale
Birkdale is a village and district in the southern part of the conurbation of the town of Southport, within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, though historically in Lancashire, in the north-west of England. The village is located on the Irish Sea coast, approximately a mile away from...
, Lancashire.
At the time of his death the Marquess was working on his autobiography which he planned to call "Almost in Confidence", after the newspaper column he had run. Regrettably it had not reached publication stage.
He died in Switzerland on 24 May 1975 at the age of 71.