Robert Vernon Heber-Percy

“The handsomest man I have ever seen” was said of Robert Heber-Percy (1911-1987) by men and women alike.
In 1931 at the age of 20, Robert became Lord Berners’ companion. Robert’s high spirits and uninhibited behaviour were “enchanting” to Lord Berners and also an important element in the entertainment of the glitterati that partied at Faringdon House during the 1930s. Robert’s extrovert behaviour earned him the nickname “The Mad Boy”.
There was a twenty seven year age gap between the two men, but they certainly shared a well-developed sense of the ridiculous.
In 1935, Robert was given the Tower as a birthday present, although he admitted later in life that he had made an ungrateful comment in response. He would rather have had a horse!
Robert was also a strong supporter of Faringdon in many different ways. In 1985, just two years before he died, he gifted to the people of Faringdon the Woodland and the Tower – now fully restored.

Robert Vernon Heber-Percy is our 12th cousin once removed
He was also a companion to Gerald Hugh Tyrwhitt, 14th Baron Berners who is also our 13th cousin thrice removed.

Gerald Hugh Tyrwhitt, bequeathed his estate to his companion Robert ('Mad Boy') Heber Percy, who lived at Faringdon until his own death in 1987.
He was first married to Dorothy Lygon,
Dorothy Heber-Percy (Lygon) is our 10th cousin thrice removed.Daughter of William Lygon, 7th Earl Beauchamp and Lettice Mary Elizabeth Lygon (Grosvenor), Countess Beauchamp.

After their marriage ended, he married Jennifer Fry, Daughter of Sir Geoffrey Storrs Fry, 1st Baronet and Althea Fry (Gardner).
<private> Zinovieff (Heber-Percy) is our 13th cousin.his mother was Jennifer Fry.
Jennifer Fry is our 10th cousin thrice removed.

Janet Milburn
6/24/23

Photo above is from Wikipedia Robert and friend riding carousel.