Major-General Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, passed away on Tuesday at the Royal Preston Hospital at the age of 64, after suddenly falling ill at his Abbeystead estate.
Banks Lyon had the great honour of working alongside His Grace in support of the Army Benevolent Fund charity, a cause that was particularly close to his heart. Each year, he hosted the Abbeystead Shoot at his picturesque estate, bringing together teams from all around the country to raise money in support of soldiers, veterans and their immediate families in times of need. We have been very privileged to be sponsors of this event and aid in this charitable work.
Pictured below: The Duke of Westminster (centre) at the Abbeystead Shoot.
“It is with great sadness that we hear of the passing of His Grace, The Duke of Westminster. It was a privilege to get to know him in our joint support of the ABF Charity. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.” – Rodney Banks Lyon
Born in 1951 and educated at Harrow School and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the Duke was one of the country’s largest landowners, with estates in Oxford, Cheshire and Scotland in addition to the Abbeystead estate in Lancashire, and property in Central London and Liverpool.
In 2011, he purchased Stanford Hall in Nottinghamshire for the purpose of developing a Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) to provide the best possible support for military casualties. Expected to be completed in 2018, this is a project His Grace was actively involved in until his death.
He is succeeded by his son, Hugh Grosvenor, who becomes the 7th Duke of Westminster.