Richard Bridgeman, 7th Earl of Bradford

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Atchom (talk | contribs) at 03:18, 5 June 2016 (clean up using AWB). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For the English attorney and writer (c. 1761 – 1820), see Richard Bridgman.

The Right Honourable
The Earl of Bradford
Earl of Bradford
Tenuresince 30 August 1981
Born (1947-10-03) 3 October 1947 (age 76)
Spouse(s)Joanne Elizabeth Miller (1979-2006)
Penelope Anne Law (2008—)
IssueAlexander Bridgeman, Viscount Newport
The Hon. Henry Bridgeman
The Hon. Benjamin Thomas Orlando Bridgeman
Lady Alicia Bridgeman
HeirAlexander Bridgeman, Viscount Newport
ParentsGerald Bridgeman, 6th Earl of Bradford
Mary Willoughby Montgomery

Richard Thomas Orlando Bridgeman, 7th Earl of Bradford (born 3 October 1947) is a British peer and businessman.

Background and education

Bradford is the son of Gerald Bridgeman, 6th Earl of Bradford 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.

Career

Bradford owned Porters English Restaurant in London's Covent Garden, which he created in 1979, and Covent Garden Grill next door; they closed in January 2015 as the leases were sold back to the landlord. In May 2015 he opened Porters Restaurant in Berkhamsted.

From 1986 to 1999 he was Chairman of Weston Park Enterprises. 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.[1] 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, now sold, and A-London-Guide.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.[2] He ran again for UKIP in the European Elections for the West Midlands region in 2004, coming eighth, seven candidates were elected.[3] In May 2012 he stood unsuccessfully for the party in a by election in the Hyde Park ward of Westminster City Council, with the support of celebrity nightclub-owner Peter Stringfellow.[4]

Lord Bradford is active in warning people about the sale of false titles of nobility[5][6][7] and he has set up a dedicated website, named Fake Titles, to educate the public on the issue.

Family

On 15 September 1979, he married Joanne Elizabeth Miller, elder daughter of Mayfair 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), who married Lucinda Bodie on 27 May 2014[8]
  • 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 and author of "Expecting a Baby? One Born Every Minute.".

The couple live in Chiswick, West London, where the Earl takes part in community discussions as Richard Bradford.[9]

Ancestry

Family of Richard Bridgeman, 7th Earl of Bradford
16. Orlando Bridgeman, 3rd Earl of Bradford
8. George Bridgeman, 4th Earl of Bradford
17. Hon. Selina Louisa Forester
4. Orlando Bridgeman, 5th Earl of Bradford
18. Richard Lumley, 9th Earl of Scarbrough
9. Lady Ida Frances Annabella Lumley
19. Frederica Mary Adeliza Drummond
2. Gerald Bridgeman, 6th Earl of Bradford
20. Henry Bruce, 1st Baron Aberdare
10. Henry Bruce, 2nd Baron Aberdare
21. Annabella Beadon
5. Hon. Margaret Cecilia Bruce
22. Hamilton Beckett
11. Constance Mary Beckett
23. Hon. Sophia Clarence Copley
1. Richard Bridgeman, 7th Earl of Bradford
12. Alexander Shirley Montgomery
6. Thomas Hassard Montgomery
3. Mary Willoughby Montgomery
28. Francis Travers Dames-Longworth
14. Edward Travers Dames-Longworth
29. Frances Tennison Noble
7. Hester Frances Dames-Longworth
30. Frederick Cockerell
15. Hester Anne Pepys Cockerell
31. Mary Homan-Mulock

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)

Notes

  1. ^ Weston Park Foundation
  2. ^ "2001 General Election Results" (PDF). UK House of Commons. 7 June 2001. Retrieved 4 April 2007. p. 98, "Richard Bradford"
  3. ^ "West Midlands' Euro candidates". BBC News. 14 May 2004. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
  4. ^ "Peter Stringfellow backs Ukip in London council by-election". BBC News. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  5. ^ Cramb, Auslan (11 December 2004). "How to lord it over your friends for only £29.99". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  6. ^ Connor, Alan (20 March 2006). "Paying for the privilege". BBC News. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Notts Lordship site provokes anger". This is Nottingham. 25 March 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2012. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ "Bridgeman/Bodie engagement". Peerage News.
  9. ^ "Chiswick W4 Forum".

References

External links

Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Earl of Bradford
2nd creation
1981–present 		Incumbent
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Bridgeman,_7th_Earl_of_Bradford&oldid=723767110"