| Edmund Maurice Burke Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy | |
|---|---|
| Born | Edmund Maurice Burke Roche 15 May 1885 Chelsea, London |
| Died | 8 July 1955 (aged 70) |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Harvard University |
| Title | Baron Fermoy |
| Predecessor | James Roche, 3rd Baron Fermoy |
| Successor | Edmund Roche, 5th Baron Fermoy |
| Spouse | Ruth Sylvia Gill |
| Children | Mary Cynthia Roche (b.1934) Frances Shand Kydd (1936-2004) Edmund Roche, 5th Baron Fermoy (1939-1984) |
| Parents | James Roche, 3rd Baron Fermoy Frances Ellen Work |
| Relatives | Cynthia Roche (sister) Diana, Princess of Wales (granddaughter) |
Edmund Maurice Burke Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy (15 May 1885 – 8 July 1955) was an Irish peer, British Conservative Party politician and the maternal grandfather of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Roche was born in Chelsea, London,[1] the elder of twin sons of the Hon. James Roche (later Baron Fermoy) and his wife, Frances Ellen Work. He was educated at Harvard University, but returned to England on succeeding to his father's title in 1920. He rented Park House, Sandringham, Norfolk from the Royal Family and at the 1924 general election, he contested and won the local parliamentary constituency, King's Lynn, holding the seat until he stood down at the 1935 general election.[2][3] He was also elected the town's mayor in 1931.[4]
On 17 September 1931, Lord Fermoy married Ruth Sylvia Gill (the youngest daughter of Col. William Gill) at St. Devenick’s, Bieldside, Aberdeenshire[1] and they had three children:
Lord Fermoy joined the Royal Air Force in 1939 at the start of World War II but when the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for King’s Lynn was killed on active service in 1943, he resigned his commission and stood for re-election. He retired from politics when Parliament was dissolved for the 1945 general election.[2]
Lord Fermoy collapsed in a shop at King’s Lynn, Norfolk in June 1955 and died three weeks later.[2] He was succeeded by his only son.
His life was the subject of the book Lilac Days, by Gavan Naden and Maxine Riddington (Harpercollins (ISBN 0-00-719863-9) ), where it was revealed he had a 30 year affair with an American Edith Travis.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by George Woodwark |
Member of Parliament for King's Lynn 1924–1935 |
Succeeded by Somerset Maxwell |
| Preceded by Somerset Maxwell |
Member of Parliament for King's Lynn 1943–1945 |
Succeeded by Frederick Wise |
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| Preceded by James Roche |
Baron Fermoy 1920–1955 |
Succeeded by Edmund Roche |