Charles Torquil de Montalt Fraser

Charles Torquil de Montalt Fraser (born October 2, 1960) was High Sheriff of West Sussex in 2006-07.^[1]

Fraser, the son of Major Michael Quintin Fraser, was educated at Temple Grove School, Rugby School and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. On graduation from Sandhurst in 1980 he was commissioned into the Life Guards as a second lieutenant.^[2] He saw operational duty in Northern Ireland in 1982, and was promoted to lieutenant.^[3] He left the army in 1986.^[4]

Since 1995 he has been heavily involved in the administration of polo in Great Britain. He was a steward of the Governing Body of Hurlingham Polo Club from 1995–2006. He has served on various committees within the sport, being chairman of the handicap committee and chairman of the development committee, overseeing the entire programme of youth polo in Great Britain, including Young England National Team SUPA. He still serves on the disciplinary committee and is on the council. He was chairman of the Cowdray Park Polo Club from 1997–2001.

Family background

Fraser comes from a multi-generational polo-playing family with ties to British India. His father Major Michael Quintin Fraser of Nashes Farm, Penshurst, Kent, England was once an adviser to the Sultan of Oman in the 1970s.^[5]

He was married in July 1988 to the former Hon. Lucy Pearson (b. 11 April 1954), third daughter of the 3rd Viscount Cowdray (1910–1995),^[6] and his eldest child and elder daughter by his second wife Elizabeth Georgiana Mather-Jackson, daughter of Sir Anthony Henry Mather Mather-Jackson, 6th Baronet.^[7] Lucy was the wife of polo player Luis Hector Juan Sosa Basualdo between 1974 and 1980, and had two children by her first marriage, who subsequently took the name Pearson. Charles and Lucy Fraser had four daughters together. They bought Blackdown Park, near Petworth, West Sussex, in 1996;^[8] the house has been put up for sale for £7.5 million (originally £9 million in June 2008). The Frasers separated temporarily last year, and then permanently, after Christmas and are reportedly getting a divorce.^[9]

He is involved in many Sussex organisations including:

• Governor, Midhurst Grammar School
• Chairman and Governor, Conifers School
• Chairman, Lurgashall Cricket Club
• Trustee, Arundel Castle Trust
• Instructor, Duke of Edinburgh Award
• Vice President, Cowdray Park Polo Club
• Sussex Wildlife Trust
• The Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray Hunt
• Winstons Wish Charity

References

1. ^ London Gazette: no. 57921. pp. 3375–3376. 9 March 2006. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
2. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 48526. p. 2317. 16 February 1981. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
3. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 49203. p. 16688. 20 December 1982. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
4. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 50535. p. 7419. 2 June 1986. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
5. ^ "A July Wedding For Lucy Pearson New York Times, 24 April 1988. Lucy was then living in Florida with her two children, and her son Rupert Pearson remains in the United States (where he is in lifetime care).
6. ^ [1] Viscount Cowdray's entry in ThePeerage.com.
7. ^ [AAFC] Sir Anthony Mather-Jackson in the Hallowes family genealogy (1899-1983); he had three daughters with his wife Evelyn Mary Stephenson 1897-), daughter of Lt. Col. Sir Henry Kenyon Stephenson, Bt.; M.P. of Hassop Hall. Elizabeth, Viscountess Cowdray is the second daughter. Sir Anthony Mather-Jackson entry in The Peerage.com.
8. ^ Penny Churchill. "Spectacular country houses ripe for restoration" 19 June 2008
9. ^ Richard Kay. "Game over for Lucy's polo match" Daily Mail 3 February 2009.

5. "Four Generations, At different times, the Himalayan foothills and the South Downs have provided a backdrop for the polo-playing Frasers". PQ International (Polo Quarterly) (Autumn). 1997. 
6. Article Polo Times 15 June 1999: "Who's Who – Charles T de M Fraser"
7. Hurlingham Polo Association Magazine Summer 2007: "View from the Top, Charles Fraser reflects upon his 12 years as an HPA Steward"
8. Etc. Magazine (Chichester Observer), February 2007: "On Her Majesty’s Service, a description of the youngest holder of the historic High Sheriff post in the country"
9. SCM, The Outside Issue: "A Friend in Need, an article about the bereavement charity Winston’s Wish which Charles Fraser is very involved with"
10. Country Life Magazine, August 10, 2006: "Interview of the week with the High Sheriff of West Sussex"
11. Sussex Depicted, Views and Descriptions 1600-1800, book written by John Farrant, entry 133: "Description of Blackdown House 1790"
12. The Land of Lod, book written about West Sussex by John Rickman: "Chapter fifteen, Blackdown House"

External links

• Charles Fraser entry at ThePeerage.com
• Hon. Lucy Pearson entry at ThePeerage.com
• New York Times article on Charles Fraser engagement to Hon. Lucy Pearson

Persondata
Name	Torquil de Montalt Fraser, Charles
Alternative names	Fraser, Charles
Short description
Date of birth	October 2, 1960
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death