Randle Joseph Feilden

Randle Joseph (Joe) Feilden, who has died suddenly at his home, 17 June, 2004, aged 73, was head of the landed family of Feilden of Cokethorpe formerly of Witton Park, and was a cousin of Sarah Duchess of York.

He was born 2 January, 1931, eldest son of Maj-Gen Sir Randle Guy Feilden, KCVO, CB, CBE (1904-81), of Cokethorpe, Witney, Oxfordshire, by his wife, Mary Joyce Ramsden, scion of the Ramsden Baronets.

Randle Feilden was descended from his father from the 2nd Viscount Hampden, and was a kinsman of Sir Winston Churchill's wife, Clementine. Randle's mother was a granddaughter of Lady Helen Seymour, and a great-granddaughter of the 12th Duke of Somerset.

He was educated at Eton; Lieutenant, Coldstream Guards.

He married twice, [i] 29 April, 1958 [in the presence of HRH The Princess Mary, The Princess Royal], to Lady Caroline Victoria Wood, elder daughter of the 2nd Earl of Halifax. He divorced Lady Caroline in 1970 on the grounds of her adultery with John Valentine Gosling [of that landed family]. Lady Caroline went on to marry Mr Gosling, and Randle then married [ii] Mr Gosling's former wife, Mary Francesca, the eldest daughter of Group Capt. Henry Pearson-Rogers, CBE, JP.

He is survived by a son, [Randle Charles] Roderick (Roddy) Feilden, and a daughter, Mrs Fiona Bryant. Another daughter, Virginia, died unmarried as the result of a skiing accident in France, 24 March, 1994. He also is survived by step-children, Charles, Sarah, Linda and Juliet.

The funeral takes place at St Bartholemew's Church, Duckington, Witney, Oxon, Thursday 1 July, 2004.

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