The dedication in Silvia’s second book Journey to Yesterday was to someone called Riette – but we had no idea who such a person was. Initially, this fact was the only reason we were aware of the name.
In 2011, however, when clearing out my mother’s house, it transpired that one of Silvia’s pictures had an inscription on the reverse side. It had been purchased by Lady Lamington of 10 Cadogan Square, London SW1. The internet had begun to feature in our lives and so it was possible to look up her name; eventually, we worked out that Lady Lamington was none other than Riette.
Since then, a few more clues have come to light. A couple of short condolence letters were sent to Silvia following Riette’s death. This implies that they were close friends. The next clue was that she was related to Athole because their mothers were sisters.
Mother
Riette’s mother was Jeanette Cunard who was first married to Edmund Leatham, a Banker. She and Edmund married in 1883 and lived at Wentbridge House, near Pontefract in Yorkshire. They had 3 children, who were still young when Edmund died, aged only 43, in 1890.
Then in 1896, Jeanette married (Daniel) Arthur Neilson who was 14 years older than his new wife. He lived at Hundhill Hall, Ackworth Park but moved to Wentbridge House (which is now a 4-star hotel). Arthur and Jeanette had two children – Harriette and Mary. Unfortunately, in 1902, he also died leaving Jeanette with five young children. They all continued to live at Wentbridge House until Jeanette’s death in 1919.
Riette
Harriet (aka Harriette) Margaret was born on 4th September 1897. Other than the registration of her birth, the first recorded evidence of her name is in 1922 when she was a bridesmaid at the wedding of her (then) fiancé’s sister, Grisell Cochrane-Baillie. It took place on 26th April, just a few weeks before Riette’s wedding.
She married Victor Alexander Cochrane-Baillie, 3rd Baron Lamington on 8th June 1922. Their wedding took place at St Mark’s, North Audley Street in London. Riette was given away by her uncle, Gordon Cunard, and was attended by her sister, Mary, and four child bridesmaids. The Aga Khan was present, along with a list of other eminent guests.
Husband
Victor was born in 1896 and was a godson of Queen Victoria. His father, Charles – the 2nd Baron Lamington – was briefly a Conservative MP for St Pancras North before becoming Governor of Queensland in 1895 and, subsequently, Governor of Bombay in 1903. The family home was near Biggar in Lanarkshire, Scotland. The Hays and the Lamingtons would, presumably, have known each other through their Scottish connections and by way of education at Eton.
Victor served in the Scots Guards until 1927. During WW1 he was twice Mentioned in Despatches and, following an attack in France, was awarded the Military Cross ‘for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty’.
In the mid-1930’s when the Dunbar Hay enterprise was set up there were four Directors: Cecilia Dunbar Kilburn, Athole Hay, Greville Worthington and Victor who was their Chairman.
Victor succeeded his father as 3rd Baron Lamington in 1940 and died in 1951. He and Riette had no children and the peerage became extinct.
Silvia's friendship with Riette
It is likely that Silvia would have met Riette through Athole. There was six years between them but they seem to have bonded – helped, perhaps, because they both lost their fathers when young and neither of them had children. In several letters, Silvia makes reference to Riette’s kindness and care. She also describes her as ‘an extraordinary woman – very clever, beautiful and devoted to music’. In the late 50s, Riette provided financial support for a young Australian singer and involved Silvia in a ‘wonderful world of music’, presumably by inviting her to various concerts.
Apparently, as a teenager, Silvia suffered from nasal diphtheria. In later life, it affected her internal organs. In an alarming account written to the Hodgsons (25.11.35), Silvia writes that she had her ‘interior x-rayed because everything had stopped working and had dropped about two feet’. This was probably a case of Spinal Muscular Atrophy caused by damaged nerves.* It meant she gave up painting for a while and made lacquer trays instead (for Dunbar Hay). Not surprisingly, she was advised to see a specialist immediately. Riette, however, intervened by introducing her to a 70 year old masseur and said ‘try him first’. Evidently, he performed ‘wonders’ and, after several weeks of manipulation, Silvia’s well-being returned.
*Diphtheria is carried in the nasal passages. Toxin produced by its bacterium can damage the heart, kidneys and nerves. Once the nerves are affected, the muscles which they supply may weaken and drop – but the organs dropping by two feet is unlikely! A weakened diaphragm would change shape and result in respiratory distress. This can be alleviated with the aid of physiotherapy.
In another letter to the Hodgsons (10.11.61), Silvia thanks them for some special photographs. Being a close friend, she showed the images to Riette who, apparently, ‘was knocked sideways with admiration’. The photos were then put in a jewel box where Silvia kept her treasures.
In 1966, Silvia made a Will with specific bequests for Riette: £100 and two items of jewellery – a string of pearls which Riette had given to her, as well as a sapphire and diamond ring. Could this have been her engagement ring which she wanted to return to the Hay/Cunard family?
According to one of the condolence letters, Riette had been unwell for some time. A Death Notice, however, states that she died suddenly – at home, on Wednesday 16th October 1968, aged 71. Her funeral took place a few days later on 22nd October at Wentbridge Parish Church, near Pontefract.
Riette’s death will have been another sad loss for Silvia, whose own death followed just two years later, almost to the day.
… but she was married to the 3rd Baron!