Clarence Napier Bruce, 3rd Baron Aberdare ^22,29,456

  General Notes:

From The Times, October 5, 1957

Lord Aberdare, whose death is reported on another page, was a brilliant player of ball games and one of the best known sportsment of his time. Whether it was cricket, rackets, tennis, golf, shooting, or lawn tennis, he showed a natural aptitude. His physical fitness and powers of endurance were remarkable. He was the open rackets champion of the British Isles at the age of 46, and amateur tennis champion of
the British Isles at 53.

In later years he devoted himself more closely to the work of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, and to the service of youth and education. He was Prior for Wales of the Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, and was especially active in
encouraging the work in the industrial areas of its offshoot, the St. John Ambulance Association. He was also a member of the Joint Committee of the Order of St. John and the British Red Cross Society, and in association with these various duties and interests was his presidency of the Welsh National School of Medicine of the University
of Wales.

Lord Aberdare also sat on the Research Board for the Correlation of Medical Science and Physical Education. He was a member of the executive committee of the National Playing Fields Association, and of the National Trust, as well as the Standing Committee of National Parks. He took much of the advice that he prescribed for others, especially during his chairmanship of the National Fitness Council, and as chairman of the International Congress for Physical Education, Recreation, and Rehabilitation.

He took a keen interest in the National Association of Boys' Clubs, of which he was chairman, and the Queen's Institute of District Nursing. He was also a member of the Miners' Welfare Committee and of the executive of the International Olympic Committee, serving on the organizing committee for the Olympic Games in London in 1948. A member of the national youth committee of the Board of Education from
1939 to 1942, he was honorary adviser to the J. Arthur Rank Organisation on Children's Cinema Clubs. The Right Honourable Clarence Napier Bruce, third Baron Aderdare, of Duffryn, in the County of Glamorgan, in the Peerage of the United
Kingdom, was born on August 2, 1885, the second son of the second baron, and was educated at Winchester and New College, Oxford. He was in the XI at Winchester and got his Blue at Oxford, playing for the university against Cambridge in 1907 and 1908. Later he was to play for Middlesex and the Gentlemen. He represented Oxford at golf from 1905 to 1908, at tennis from 1906 to 1908, and at rackets from 1905 to
1908. In 1907 he won the Oxford University Silver Racket. In 1911 Bruce was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple. He was a captain in the 2/1 Glamorgan Yeomanry, a temporary lieutenant in the 2nd Life Guards, and later with the 2nd Battalion of the Guards Marchine Gun Regiment, and was also attached to Headquarters, 61st Division. He was demobilized with the rank of captain in 1919. He was honorary colonel of 282 (Welsh) Field Brigade R.A. (T.A.). From 1940 to 1945 he served as a major with the 11th Battalion of the Surrey Home Guard.

Bruce won the rackets amateur championship in 1922 and 1931, was 10 times doubles champion, and was champion of the United States doubles in 1928 and 1930. He was singles champion of Canada in 1928 and 1930, and doubles champion here in the latter year. In 1931 he become open champion of the British Isles. At tennis, Bruce was amateur champioin of the United States in 1930, and of the British Isles two years later and again in 1938. He represented Great Britain in the Bathurst Cup no fewer than 18 times, and was six times winner of the Coupe de Paris. He was five times winner of M.C.C. Gold Prize and nine times winner of the Silver Prize. A fine match player, his good style and amazing endurance made him outstanding.

He succeeded his father in the title in 1929, his elder brother, Captain the Hon. Henry Lyndhurst Bruce (3rd Battalion, The Royal Scots), having been killed in action on December 14, 1914. He married, first in 1912 Margaret Bethune (Betty), the only daughter of Mr. Adam Black, of Danescross, Hook Heath, Woking, Surrey, who died in
1950, and by whom he had two sons and two daughters. His second marriage to Miss Grizelda Hervey, took place last month. He is succeeded in the family honours by the Hon. Morys George Lyndhurst Bruce, and who married in 1946 Maud Helen Sarah, only daughter of Sir John Dashwood, Bt., by whom he has two sons.
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He attended the games at Los Angeles in 1932, Berlin in 1936, and after the war in London (1948), Helsinki (1952), and Melbourne (1956). While returning from an Olympic meeting in Sofia, he was killed in a car accident. Had 2 sons and 2 daughters.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. He appeared on the census in 1891 in Ynirygerwn House, Neath, Wales.

2. He appeared on the census in 1901 in Longwood House, Longwood, Hampshire.

3. Acceded to title: 20 February 1929.

4. He appeared on the census in 1911 in 83 Eaton Square, London. ¹⁰

5. Resided: 4 October 1957, Danescross, Hook Heath, Woking, Surrey. ¹³

6. He had an estate probated on 18 December 1957 in London. ¹³

Clarence married Margaret Bethune Black, daughter of Adam Black and Unknown, on 12 December 1912 in St. Margaret's, Westminster ²⁷.^,54 (Margaret Bethune Black was born c 1891 in Edinburgh ¹⁰ and died on 8 February 1950 in St. Thomas' Hospital, London ⁴⁶².)

Clarence next married Griselda Harriet Violet Finetta Georgiana Hervey, daughter of Dudley Francis Amelius Hervey and Griselda Mary Theophila Campbell, on 12 September 1957. (Griselda Harriet Violet Finetta Georgiana Hervey was born c 1908 in Alderburgh, Suffolk ¹⁰.)