The 14th Duke of Bedford, Henry Robin Ian Russell, who was better known in golfing circles by his previous title of The Marquess of Tavistock, has died at the age of 63. He succeeded to the dukedom on the death of his father last autumn. He died on Friday, June 13, two days after suffering a stroke at his home near his family's ancestral seat, Woburn Abbey.
In golf, as the Marquess of Tavistock, he became recognised as the genial host of the British Masters on The European Tour which was first played at the Woburn Golf and Country Club in 1979, and the Bovis Lend Lease European Senior Masters on the European Seniors Tour which was first staged in 2001.
At Woburn, the family home since 1668, he established an elegant triumvirate of courses – first The Duke’s, then The Duchess and, most recently and appropriately, The Marquess.
As the Marquess of Tavistock, he was understandably proud when, in 2001, the British Masters, then sponsored by Victor Chandler, was played on The Marquess Course. He wrote at the time: “The course has been a dream in our minds for many years and it is therefore thrilling for us to have such a prestigious Championship played on it while it is still so young.”
No fewer than 16 editions of the British Masters have been held at Woburn Golf and Country Club. The Marquess of Tavistock invited many players, notably the defending champion, to stay with him and the Marchioness, Henrietta Tiarks, whom he married in 1961, during the week of the championship. In 1986, Lee Trevino returned to defend the title and, at a pre-tournament press interview, he famously said: “Sorry, I must go now. The butler will shortly be serving afternoon tea!”
The Bovis Lend Lease European Senior Masters takes place on The Duke’s Course and its third staging will be from September 5-7 this year, the two previous champions having been Jamaica’s Delroy Cambridge and Bob Shearer of Australia.
Ken Schofield, Executive Director of The European Tour, said: “As the Marquess of Tavistock he hosted, with enormous pride, the playing of the British Masters. All involved with the Championship will have many special and vivid memories of Woburn and, like him, we were especially delighted that the 2001 and 2002 editions of the Victor Chandler British Masters were played on the new Marquess Course.
“We mourn the passing of a good friend of the Tour and a genuine enthusiast of our sport and many others, including horse racing. The European Tour sends its sincerest condolences to his wife, Henrietta, and their three sons.”
In horse racing he was a member of The Jockey Club, and chairman of United Racecourses from 1977 to 1994. He also supported his wife in the running of their successful bloodstock business which included the Bloomsbury Stud. As an owner he enjoyed many successes; his familiar purple and white stripes were frequently seen past the winning post. Precocious won the Norfolk and Gimcrack Stakes and Jupiter Island which, like Precocious, he and his wife bred, won the 1985 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Prix de Conseil in Paris and the 1986 Japan Cup.
His friends are asked to wear no black at his funeral on the Friday morning (June 20) of Royal Ascot, but rather to attend in their Ascot best before repairing to the course for the kind of afternoon he and his wife most loved. He is survived by his wife and their three sons. Andrew, Lord Howland, became Marquess of Tavistock last October, and now succeeds as 15th Duke.
