David Sox
A Snake In The Grass
Rev H. David Sox was a part-time clergyman, author of books on the Shroud of Turin.
In the 1990s, in the shadow of being snubbed for unprofessional antics by his former colleagues in the Shroud Community, Sox took a job as a visitor guide at Highclere Castle (the backdrop to TV's "Downton Abbey").
During his long association with Shroud history Sox was charged with deceit, of underhand methods of research and leaking secret data to the press. He scored a big success with one of his books on the authenticity of the Shroud by including classified information that was not to be published.
Sox was the ultimate snake in the grass. Always waiting, but ready to pounce.
He very soon had his feet under the dining room table sitting pretty like King Charles I on his horse.
Highclere clearly knew nothing about Sox's chequered past.
Before too long Sox saw an opportunity to write a biography of Almina, 5th Countess of Carnarvon, the Earl’s beloved ‘granny’ – the widow of the 5th Earl of Old King Tut fame.
The idea of Sox’s biography received the green light. He was given unfettered access to Highclere Archives, and although Almina had died aged 93, in 1969, there were many people still alive who knew her and numerous sources to tap into about her extraordinary life and times.
Sox's research went ahead and he interviewed many of Almina's family, friends and deadly enemies.
Almina had many skeletons in the closet.
The material supplied to Sox by Almina's godson, the late Tony Leadbetter, was highly controversial, laced with details of Almina's colourful life that Highclere could never let enter the public domain.
To dwarf that, several people told Sox of the rumours around one issue that was the most damning and damaging - that Almina's only son was illegitimate.
Sox claimed he'd found in Highclere Archives details of this a scandal relating to the paternity of the 6th Earl of Carnarvon.
The Rev. H. David Sox had his big headline grab for a book and knew it was a money spinner.
But Sox was the " The Man Who Knew Too Much"
Did Sox - an expert on forgery and fakers- really find anything incriminating in Highclere Archives?
Who knows the truth? Who is willing to tell what they know? Who is too scared ?
It is time to settle this part of Highclere’s history once and for all.
NB : A new book in 2023 will provide the answers.
"Highclere Insider - David Sox : The Man Who Knew Too Much"
ISBN 9781905914746
MORE INFORMATION WANTED
Enquiries about this article contact williecross@aol.com
Lady Catherine Carnarvon of Highclere Castle
Catherine and Tilly: Porchey Carnarvon's Two Duped Wives
A New Book on Catherine Wendell, the Sixth Countess of Carnarvon,
And the story of Tilly Losch, also Sixth Countess of Carnarvon
Contact the Author William Cross by e-mail for further details
One of the marriage photographs from the wedding of Porchey Carnarvon and Catherine Wendell in 1922
“Catherine and Tilly : Porchey Carnarvon’s Two Duped Wives
Catherine Wendell and Tilly Losch
The Tragic Tales of the Sixth Countesses of Carnarvon”
By William Cross, FSA Scot
ISBN 1-905914-25-3 and ISBN 9781905914258
PUBLICATION DATE : 18 NOVEMBER 2013
£12.00 + P & P £3.00 UK £9.00 USA/ CANADA/ AUSTRALIA/ NEW ZEALAND
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Catherine-Tilly-Carnarvons-Countesses-Carnarvon/dp/1905914253
Tilly Losch, also Sixth Countess of Carnarvon
The Austrian born dancer Tilly Losch married Porchey Carnarvon in 1939 and divorced him in 1947. Tilly died in New York on Christmas Eve of 1975.
Teh book will feature details of the marriage of Tilly and Porchey.
http://kitty-and-tilly-carnarvon.yolasite.com/
New Book : Catherine and Tilly
Porchey Carnarvon's
Two Duped Wives
Catherine Wendell
After her father's death in 1911, ten-year-old Catherine Wendell was whisked away from her American roots, to live in Britain.
Widowhood and with it some dire financial difficulties forced Catherine's courageous mother Marian Fendall Wendall to abandon her New York home for sanctuary in the village of Sandridge in Hertfordshire, England.
It was here in Sandridge that a wealthy cousin, Gertrude Griffiths offered shelter and safety to Marian and her four children. Catherine was Marian's third child, there were two older brothers and a younger sister.
As a young woman Catherine was fair and beautiful, she attracted many suitors.
In 1922, through the glorious matchmaking skills of Marian and Gertrude, Catherine Wendell became wife of Lord Porchester, heir to the Earldom of Carnarvon.
A flashy Society wedding at St Margaret's Westminster was followed by Catherine becoming Sixth Countess of Carnarvon in 1923. But the marriage proved a hell-hole for Catherine, her husband Porchey was a swine and adulterer. He had countless affairs, gambled irresponsibly and treated Catherine badly leaving her physically and mentally abused and scarred.
Catherine fell to pieces, she became a slave to alcohol and lost her spirit and self-respect. In effect she became a social embarrassment.
After a struggle to bring herself back from the brink of near death Catherine's confidante, friend and saviour was Almina, Fifth Countess of Carnarvon, her most remarkable mother-in-law.
Through Almina's support and help Catherine found an inner strength again, although she had to deal with many other family problems and overcome the loss of a brother and several close friends.
After Catherine finally divorced the Sixth Earl ( better known as Porchey Carnarvon) she proved to a singularly brave and thoughful woman, ( despite taking other hits in her life ).
Catherine ultimately found some inner happiness and contentment ( again through Almina's guidance ) and a religious conversion to the Roman Catholic faith.
Catherine Wendell found the strength to show all those who doubted her ( including her closest family ) that she was a fine woman, a worthy mother and later the good wife of two men who appreciated her love.
Porchey duped Catherine into marriage, but others were involved in that whole seedy and contrived affair.
Porchey's handling of his marriage dimmed Catherine's record as Sixth Countess of Carnarvon. It was a brief one, but as the chatelaine of Highclere Castle between 1923 and 1935, Catherine was well liked by staff and demonstrated she was an excellent hostess and contributed greatly to the life of the Estate.
Catherine Wendell, later Sixth Countess of Carnarvon, later Mrs Geoffrey Grenfell, finally Mrs Don Momand died in Switzerland in 1977.
