BACKGROUND
Born & educated in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, Hugh grew up on the back of a horse and went on to train and breed racehorses. He has served in the South African Defence Force in Mozambique, Caprivi Strip and South West Africa. From farming in Zimbabwe to working for IBM and United Nations – he has lived & worked in 6 countries and speaks 4 languages. Along with Zulu, his hunting dog, he is currently working on his new book about life along the French Riviera over the past 30 years. Member of London Society of Authors.
THE MITFORD DYNASTY
”Discover the energy and influence of one of England’s well known families from 1066 to the 21st century. Landowners and philanthropists, writers and historians, activists and fascists and peers of the realm feature in one of the nation’s most fascinating dynasties”. To quote – “The fact that he is a Mitford himself is unique and adds an extra dimension and passion to the telling of his family’s story. I would highly recommend his book and this talk to anyone interested in history or intrigued by the idea of putting those Mitford girls into context!” Hugh is the direct, mainline descendant of Mitford, Northumberland since 1066*.
*Ref. Mitford Estate Act 1854 by Royal Assent, Westminster, London.
HONORABLE FROM HEAD TO TOE
Many have heard of the famous, infamous and scandalous Mitford Girls. Diana, who married Bryan Guinness, heir to the Guinness brewery fortune and later married Sir Oswald Mosley, the fascist leader and due to her admiration of Hitler, got locked up in Holloway prison for three years. Unity became a friend of Hitler and Nazi supporter and supposedly shot herself when war was declared between England and Germany. Jessica became a communist and writer (American Way of Death) and Deborah, became Duchess of Devonshire and Chatsworth. Nancy, the famous author and not to forget Tom, the only son who died from wounds in the war. Hugh knew Debo and presents an insight from his family and life, and his 15 year friendship with author, Lesley Blanch-Gary MBE / Legion de Honneur, wife of French icon & author Romain Gary, and her intimate friendship with Nancy, Diana, Deborah and the Duchess of Windsor.
A new six part UKTV with BBC, entitled “Outrageous” is currently in production and will be on your TV screens in 2025.
10,000 MILES ON HORSEBACK FROM LONDON TO COLOMBO
Edward Ledwich Mitford was the first British Consul in Morocco for the Middle East, and was later offered the job of British Consul in Colombo, Ceylon now Sri Lanka. Only problem was, how to get there… as he hated travelling by ship? Before telephones existed and photography was invented, aged 28 years, he undertook the most adventurous and perilous journey of his life. Edward was the first person to ride 10,000 miles on horse back from London to Colombo. In Hugh’s series of five books entitled “The Middle East As It Was” Hugh details Edward’s horseback journey through the towns and villages of Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and India.
THE CREATION OF ISRAEL
Talking of the Middle East, many think of Peter O’Toole and the famous Lawrence of Arabia. However, before him there was someone that also became the doyen of the British foreign office. Lawrence felt close to the Arabs and tried to create a pan-Arabic state, whereas Edward Ledwich Mitford (28th Squire of Mitford Castle & Estates) was driven towards creating a home for the Jewish nation. The beginning of Israel starts with Hugh’s great-great grandfather Edward Ledwich Mitford who was the first person to present a detailed plan for the creation of the independent state of Israel to the ministers of the British government. This later led to the Balfour Declaration and British Mandate. Originally published by J Hatchard & Son, Piccadilly, London in 1845, now Waterstones. Hugh, co-author of British Policy in the Middle East and the Creation of Israel, will share with you his grandfather’s motivation in this true story.
FROM CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE TO HOWARD CARTER
Admiral Robert Mitford was on excellent terms with the Khedive Mahomet Ali of Egypt and this provides the basis of an intriguing family story. His only daughter Margaret Mitford married William Tyssen-Amhurst (Lord Amhurst). “The Cleopatra needle that stands on the Thames Embankment in London once belonged to my grandfather” (Admiral Robert Mitford). They had a passion for Egypt and with their youth and unlimited Tyssen funds started to build a collection of Egyptian artefacts. It was here (from the Mitford-Amhurst link) that Howard Carter began his interest and career in Egyptology. Part of this collection is now at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Hugh will explain what happened to one of England’s largest private collections of Egyptian artefacts.
BERTRAM MITFORD – A FOUNDER OF SOUTH AFRICAN LITERATURE
From apartheid to what democracy? The legacy of Nelson Mandela has been totally shredded, by his own ANC people. Ask yourself why? To understand any country one needs to know its history and culture. Hugh’s great uncle Bertram Mitford, also a friend of Cecil John Rhodes, wrote “When two great bulls stand looking at each other over one fence, are they friends for long?” Bertram Mitford, a contemporary of Rider Haggard (much favoured by the “British establishment” for his romantic portrayal of Southern Africa, as opposed to Bertram’s more robust and realistic viewpoint), wrote 44 bestselling books covering the facts, culture, politics and history of South Africa from 1880 to 1913. Hugh presents a unique insight to the books and history of what his great uncle understood about South Africa, then and today.
THE FRENCH RIVIERA
Somerset Maugham said the French Riviera is a sunny place for shady people. That was during the golden “Belle Époque” era. The Mitford’s were there and formed part of the Riviera Set (Mary Lovell’s book “The Riviera Set”). Hugh brings this alive with the remarkable career of an intimate friend who lived to the age of 96 years and worked for many Riviera icons – a Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winner, Pearl Buck, Graham Sutherland, David Niven, Emery Reves – Churchill’s publicist, Niarkos and Onassis, James Clavell, Dr Michael Ellis De Bakey, Ronald Elwin Neame, Malcome Muggeridge, Sir Anton Dolin, Gérald Van der Kemp, Somerset Maugham, Comtesse Sanjust di Teulada, and others – who lived along the Riviera and influenced the course of history we have today.
TRAINING RACEHORSES
Training racehorses is an individualistic procedure needing – character, patience and understanding. The basics are the same, as any horse or human to race, must be healthy and fit in body and mind. The tricky part is the way the horse is brought to peak fitness and maintaining that degree of fitness over a period of time. Not only that – if one is lucky enough to have a quality horse to enter in the English Derby, the Prix Diane, L’Arc de Triomphe, the Gold Cup or the Durban July Handicap to mention a few – it’s also about training the owners, millionaires and captains of industry with their ideals and personalities in order to ride the ups and downs of the racing industry! Hugh grew up on a horse, and was granted a Racehorse Trainers Licence. Working for Dick Hern (Queen’s Trainer) at West Ilsley, he rode & trained the Queen’s racehorses and was trainer to the Saudi Royal family. From show-jumping to cross country and dressage – join him for a first hand insight into the fascinating world of breeding and training racehorses.
All talks are relaxed & informal with computer presentations of photographs and illustrations lasting about 40/50 minutes. Talks in UK & Europe are free in support of your local fund-raising organisation.
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