Lord Fanshawe of Richmond late The Life Guards Anthony Royle was educated at Harrow: he would later refer to a thanksgiving service after a German bombing raid, attended by Churchill. “Winston wept copiously throughout the singing”. Royle recalled “which amused all us small boys”. He was commissioned into The Life Guards in 1945 serving in Germany, Egypt, Palestine and Transjordan. In 1950 he joined the SAS but contracted polio while en route to Korea. He then became a Lloyd’s name and joined Sedgwick’s. He was elected MP for Richmond, Surrey and achieved the notable feat of appearing in the dissolution honours of both Ted Heath and Margaret Thatcher, retiring from Parliament in 1983 as Lord Fanshawe of Richmond.
Major C R Philipson late The Life Guards By Captain The Hon Sir Nicholas Beaumont KCVO DL formerly The Life Guards Christo Philipson joined The Life Guards in 1948 and served until 1961. He was a man of great charm, equipped with a first class brain, a unique sense of humour and a strong resolve. This exceptional character did not have an enemy in the world and was greatly admired by all ranks. His stories and quips were enhanced by his stutter which encouraged people to laugh with him but never at him. Christo served as a Troop Leader in an Armoured Car Squadron, a Troop Leader at Knightsbridge, a Staff Captain 4th Guards Brigade in Germany, and a Staff Captain Headquarters Household Brigade, Whitehall. He commanded a Squadron in Aden and the Air Portable Squadron at Combermere Barracks in Windsor. He commanded The Life Guards Mounted Squadron in London and commanded the escort for Princess Margaret at her wedding. Christo was a fine horseman and went on the equitation course at the remount depot Melton Mowbray where he turned out remounts to a high quality. When The Life Guards were stationed at Wolfenbuttel They started a racing stable. Although Christo and I had never ridden in a flat race and I entered two horses in the same race. I rode one and Christo the other. The race started over twenty minutes late and we were both up in the front of the stewards who were justifiably very angry as our excuse was that though we had two horses we only had one saddle! On Princess Margaret’s wedding day Christo was sitting on his
horse in the quadrangle at Buckingham Palace when the bridegroom came out of the quadrangle and recognising Christo went over to him and said “This is a right old do” Christo replied in a long stutter “You can say that again”! He had a splended driver/soldier servant in Germany and when he was Staff Captain in Germany he bought his Brigadier to a guest night at Wolfenbuttel to dine with The Life Guards. The Brigadier did not enjoy the rowdy evening too much and after dinner said he would like to go home. Christo eventually found the driver who had been enjoying himself and as they reached the staff car the driver tapped the Brigadier on the arm and said “Cheer up mate we cant all be in The Life Guards”! As a Squadron Leader of an Armoured Car Squadron and a Mounted Squadron his command was the same. Charming and Cheerful. He allowed those in charge to get on with their jobs but they all knew when things had not gone right when the words “I wouldn’t do that again “ were directed at the guilty party. Christo enjoyed very much his hunting in the Shires and with the Pytchley and was a good shot and loved his grouse shooting in Derbyshire. He was recommended for the Staff College but left the Army. After two years in the London Bloodstock Agency he joined the British Bloodstock Agency where he stayed for thirty-seven years. There was worldwide acknowledgement of his chairmanship. He was Founder and First Chairman of the Bloodstock Agents Association and Chairman of the Taxation Committee. He was elected a member of the Jockey Club in 2001. Christo was a gardener of merit and together with his wife Mary they created a very attractive garden at their home Lofts Hall in Essex. He was most knowledgeable with regards to plants and trees. He also ran a most successful stud and created an excellent shoot. The Life Guards have lost a great friend. Our sympathy goes out to Mary, his daughters Joanna and Caroline and his sister Joanna.
Major Anthony Richards, late The Life Guards (DOM 1970-1984) By Keith Whitworth formerly The Life Guards Major Anthony Richards joined the Regimental Band of the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (QMO) as a Band boy in Wolfenbuttel, Germany in 1946. He was an extremely popular young man who added a great deal to the Regimental Band as a superb musician. His professionalism saw him posted to the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall in 1952 to attend a Bandmaster’s Course. After the rough three year course he set out on a long and distinguished career in Army Music as Bandmaster of the Lancashire Fusiliers (1956 to 1964). He was then commissioned as Director of Music of the Alamein Staff Band of the Royal Tank Regiment and remained in that post until 1970 when he became Director of Music of The Life Guards.
Obituaries 101