Death of Lord Massereene

TRIBUTES have been paid to the 14th Viscount Massereene and 7th Viscount Ferrard - John David Clotworthy Whyte-Melville Foster Skeffington - who has died aged 84.

He was born on June 3 1940, the eldest son of John Clotworthy Talbot Foster Whyte-Melville Skeffington, who would inherit the family viscountcies on his father’s death in 1956, and Annabelle, née Lewis, granddaughter of the diamond magnate Isaac Lewis.

His father had been born at the family seat of Antrim Castle which burned down in 1922 and he later sold the grounds to the council to develop the public park enjoyed by scores of local residents and visitors today.

Lord Massereene and his wife Denise visited Antrim in 2022 to mark the centenary of the fire. When asked if he thought the blaze was deliberate, he replied: “Undoubtedly!

He said that the death toll would’ve been higher but for the bravery of a guest who helped his forebearers escape.

Lord Massereene recalled spending time with his grandfather in the gardens as a young boy, adding that the castle grounds would always have a ‘vast place’ in his heart.

His widow Denise said that the couple had planned to return to see the new statue of the late Queen installed at Antrim Castle Gardens in September, but sadly, that wasn’t to be.

She added: “His heart certainly was always in Antrim.”

See full obituary on Page 12.