Christopher Beckett, 4th Baron Grimthorpe

Christopher John Beckett, 4th Baron Grimthorpe OBE, DL (1915-2003) was a soldier, company director, landowner and peer of the turf.

Christopher John Beckett was born 16 September 1915, eldest son of Ralph William Ernest Beckett, 3rd Baron Grimthorpe, TD, (1891-1963), a partner in the banking firm of Beckett and Co., of Leeds, Yorkshire, by his first wife, Mary Alice, daughter of Colonel Mervyn Archdale, 12th Lancers and Mary Kate de Bathe, daughter of Sir Henry de Bathe, 4th Baronet. He grew up at Easthorpe Hall, Malton, in North Yorkshire where his father and his second wife Angela ran a stud where they bred Fragrant Mac which won the Scottish Grand National in 1952. The best horse they owned however was Fortina, winner of the 1947 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Christopher Beckett was educated at Eton. He succeeded his father as fourth Baron and eighth Baronet in 1963.

In 17 February 1954, he married Lady Elizabeth Lumley, daughter of Roger Lumley, 11th Earl of Scarbrough of Lumley Castle, Lord Chamberlain to the Queen. The wedding took place at the Queen's Chapel, Marlborough Gate, sometimes called the Marlborough House Chapel, by special permission of the sovereign, and the wedding reception took place at St James's Palace. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, & the Duchess of Gloucester attended. In 1973 Lady Grimthorpe joined the household of the Queen Mother as a Lady of the Bedchamber, and remained in that post at Clarence House until the death of Her Majesty.

Lord Grimthorpe was a director of Thirsk Race Committee, and was a member of the Jockey Club. He also served as a consultant and sales representative with Sir Alfred McAlpine and Son Ltd. In 1973 he joined the board of Yorkshire Post Newspapers where his uncle, the Hon Rupert Beckett, had been chairman for 30 years, 1920-50. Lord Grimthorpe was appointed OBE (military) in 1958.

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