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John Gretton, 2nd Baron Gretton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Frederic Gretton, 2nd Baron Gretton OBE (15 August 1902 – 26 March 1982), was a British peer and Conservative Member of Parliament.

Gretton was the son of John Gretton, 1st Baron Gretton, and Hon. Maud Helen de Moleyns, daughter of Dayrolles Blakeney Eveleigh-de-Moleyns, 4th Baron Ventry. Lord Gretton was educated at Eton.

He was elected to the House of Commons for Burton in 1943 (succeeding his father), a seat he held until 1945. Two years later he succeeded his father as second Baron Gretton and entered the House of Lords.

Lord Gretton married on 6 May 1930 Anna Helena, known as Margaret, elder daughter of Captain Henrik Loeffler, of 51 Grosvenor Square, London.[1] She was a JP in 1943 for Staffordshire and lived at the Rectory, Ufford, near Stamford, Lincolnshire.

  • John Henrik Gretton, 3rd Baron
  • Anthony David Erik (25 Jul 1945 – 13 Nov 1982)
  • Mary Ann Maud Sigrid (5 Jan 1939- )
  • Elizabeth Margaret (25 Jul 1945- )

In film

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In 1958, Stapleford Miniature Railway was constructed by the 2nd Lord Gretton in Stapleford Park, as a public attraction. It also included a lion reserve. The park and house became a tourist attraction in the 1960's and '70's. It closed in 1982, and the house was sold. It was converted into a country hotel. The railway and parkland are still owned by the Gretton family, and they open for charity a few times a year. In 1964, British Pathé filmed 'Statley Home Railway' there, which featured the 2nd. Lord.

He died in March 1982, aged 79, and was succeeded in the barony by his son John Henrik Gretton.

The grave of John Gretton, 2nd Baron Gretton, in the graveyard of St Mary Magdalene's Church, Stapleford

Arms

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Coat of arms of John Gretton, 2nd Baron Gretton
Notes
Coat of arms of the Gretton family
Coronet
A coronet of a Baron
Crest
An Arm embowed Proper vested above the elbow Argent holding in the hand a torch erect fired and a sickle in bend sinister both Proper.
Escutcheon
Quarterly per fess indented Or and Gules in the second quarter an anchor in bend sinister of the first and in the third quarter an antique lamp also Or fired Proper.
Supporters
Dexter a bull Sable sinister a Chestnut Horse Proper each gorged with a chain pendent therefrom an anchor Or
Motto
Steadfast[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Grosvenor Square: Individual Houses built before 1926 Pages 117-166 Survey of London: Volume 40, the Grosvenor Estate in Mayfair, Part 2 (The Buildings)". British History Online. LCC 1980. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  2. ^ Burke's Peerage. 1999.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Burton
1943–1945
Succeeded by
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Baron Gretton
1947–1982
Succeeded by
Other offices
Preceded by President of the Institute of Brewing
1960 – 1962
Succeeded by