Peerage Record – 42572

     Sir William Guy Ropner was born on 14 June 1896.² He was the son of William Ropner and Sarah Woolacott Cory.² He married Margarita Gray, daughter of Sir William Cresswell Gray, 1st Bt. and Kate Casebourne, on 22 June 1921.² He died on 2 May 1971 at age 74.²
     He was educated at Harrow School, Harrow, London, England.² He fought in the First World War.² He gained the rank of Major in the Royal Artillery (TA.)² He was Director of Convoy Section, Ministry of War between 1944 and 1945.² He was appointed Knight in 1947.² He was President of the Chamber of Shipping between 1950 and 1951.² He was director of Sir R Ropner & Company.² He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for the North Riding, Yorkshire.²

     Sir William Gray, 2nd Bt. was born on 18 August 1895.¹ He was the son of Sir William Cresswell Gray, 1st Bt. and Kate Casebourne.² He married, firstly, Josephine Eveleigh, daughter of W. H. Eveleigh, on 8 April 1929.¹ He married, secondly, Beryl Stott, daughter of Alfred Stott, on 22 March 1947.¹ He died in 1978.¹
     He was educated at Loretto School, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland^G.¹ He gained the rank of Captain in the 3rd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment.¹ He fought in the First World War, where he was mentioned in despatches, was wounded and became a POW.¹ He was local director of Liverpool & London and Globe Insurance Newcastle.¹ He was director of Eggleston Estate Company and Hartlepool Water Company.¹ He succeeded as the 2nd Baronet Gray, of Tunstall Manor, West Hartlepool, co. Durham [U.K., 1917] on 1 November 1924.¹ He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.) of County Durham in 1932.¹ He held the office of High Sheriff of County Durham in 1938.¹

     Josephine Eveleigh was the daughter of W. H. Eveleigh.² She married Sir William Gray, 2nd Bt., son of Sir William Cresswell Gray, 1st Bt. and Kate Casebourne, on 8 April 1929.¹ She died on 19 March 1943.¹
     From 8 April 1929, her married name became Gray.

     Willam Talbot Gray was born on 4 July 1931.¹ He was the son of Sir William Gray, 2nd Bt. and Josephine Eveleigh.² He married Rosemarie Hume Elliott-Smith, daughter of A/Cdre. Charles Hume Elliott-Smith, on 22 April 1954.¹ He died on 9 July 1971 at age 40, in a car crash.¹
     He was educated at Eton College, Windsor, Berkshire, England^G.¹ He gained the rank of officer between 1950 and 1951 in the 9th Lancers.¹ He was director of Eggleston Estate Company, Talbot Gray and Hartlepool Water Company.¹

     A/Cdre. Charles Hume Elliott-Smith was awarded the Air Force Cross (A.F.C.)¹

     Rosemarie Hume Elliott-Smith is the daughter of A/Cdre. Charles Hume Elliott-Smith.² She married Willam Talbot Gray, son of Sir William Gray, 2nd Bt. and Josephine Eveleigh, on 22 April 1954.¹
     From 22 April 1954, her married name became Gray. She lived in 2003 at The Cottage, Eggleston Hall, Eggleston, County Durham, England^G.¹

     Sir William Hume Gray, 3rd Bt. was born on 26 July 1955.² He is the son of Willam Talbot Gray and Rosemarie Hume Elliott-Smith.² He married, firstly, Catherine Victoria Willoughby Naylor, daughter of John Naylor, on 27 July 1984.² He and Catherine Victoria Willoughby Naylor were divorced in 1998.² He married, secondly, Juliet Rachel Jackson, daughter of David J. Jackson, on 16 June 2001.²
     He was educated at Aysgarth School, Bedale, Yorkshire, North Riding, England^G.² He was educated at Eton College, Windsor, Berkshire, England^G.² He graduated from Central London Polytechnic, London, England^G, with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)² He graduated from Central London Polytechnic, London, England^G, with a Diploma of Architecture.² He succeeded as the 3rd Baronet Gray, of Tunstall Manor, West Hartlepool, co. Durham [U.K., 1917] in 1978.¹ He was registered as a Associate, Royal Institute of British Architects (A.R.I.B.A.)³ He was director of Eggleston Hall Ltd.² He lived in 2003 at Eggleston Hall, Barnard Castle, County Durham, England^G.²

     Victoria Eyre Gray was born on 15 July 1958.¹ She is the daughter of Willam Talbot Gray and Rosemarie Hume Elliott-Smith.² She married Nicholas David Barclay Straker, son of Hugh Charles Straker and Elaine Felicia Peat, on 6 September 1980.¹
     From 6 September 1980, her married name became Straker. She lived in 2003 at Sough Hill, Caldwell, Darlington, County Durham, England^G.¹

     Hugh Charles Straker was born on 19 October 1926.² He is the son of Hugh Alister Straker and Jean Adam Ritson.³ He married Elaine Felicia Peat, daughter of Charles Urie Peat and Ruth Martha Pulley, on 17 July 1948.² He and Elaine Felicia Peat were divorced in 1978.⁴
     He lived at Gaucin, Spain^G.¹