Richard Bridgeman, 7th Earl of Bradford

The Right Honourable The Earl of Bradford
Born	3 October 1947
Title	Earl of Bradford
Tenure	since 30 August 1981
Heir	Alexander Bridgeman, Viscount Newport
Spouse(s)	Joanne Elizabeth Miller (1979-2006) Penelope Anne Law (2008—)
Issue	Alexander Bridgeman, Viscount Newport The Hon. Henry Bridgeman The Hon. Benjamin Thomas Orlando Bridgeman Lady Alicia Bridgeman
Parents	Gerald Bridgeman, 6th Earl of Bradford Mary Willoughby Montgomery

Richard Thomas Orlando Bridgeman, 7th Earl of Bradford (born 3 October 1947) is a British peer and businessman.

Background and education

Bradford is the son of Gerald Bridgeman, 6th Earl of Bradford and Mary Willoughby Montgomery. He was educated at St. Ronan's School, Hawkhurst, and Harrow School, just outside London, and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1969 and a Master of Arts in 1973. He succeeded to his father's title in 1981.

Career

Bradford owned Porters English Restaurant in London's Covent Garden, which he created in 1979, and Covent Garden Grill next door; they closed in January 2015 as the leases were sold back to the landlord. In May 2015 he opened Porters Restaurant in Berkhamsted.

From 1986 to 1999 he was Chairman of Weston Park Enterprises. Because the 6th Earl left the family with large death duties, Bradford gifted his home Weston Park and 1,000 acres to the nation in 1986, with the support of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, to the Weston Park Foundation.^[1] As of 1998, he is Chairman of VIP Internet Ltd, a website design company, which also operates its own websites, such as Stately-Homes.com, now sold, and A-London-Guide.com.

In 2001, he was a candidate for political office, running as a candidate for the UK Independence Party, he obtained 5.2% support (2,315 votes) in Stafford, losing to David Kidney, but achieving the 4th best result for the party.^[2] He ran again for UKIP in the European Elections for the West Midlands region in 2004, coming eighth, seven candidates were elected.^[3] In May 2012 he stood unsuccessfully for the party in a by election in the Hyde Park ward of Westminster City Council, with the support of celebrity nightclub-owner Peter Stringfellow.^[4]

Lord Bradford is active in warning people about the sale of false titles of nobility^[5][6][7] and he has set up a dedicated website, named Fake Titles, to educate the public on the issue.

Family

On 15 September 1979, he married Joanne Elizabeth Miller, elder daughter of Mayfair bookmaker Benjamin Miller. They divorced in 2006. They have four children:

• Alexander Michael Orlando Bridgeman, Viscount Newport (born 6 September 1980)
• The Hon. Henry Gerald Orlando Bridgeman (born 18 April 1982), who married Lucinda Bodie on 27 May 2014^[8]
• The Hon. Benjamin Thomas Orlando Bridgeman (born 7 February 1987)
• Lady Alicia Rose Bridgeman (born 27 December 1990)

On 30 August 2008, he married Dr. Penelope Anne Law, a Consultant Obstetrician and author of "Expecting a Baby? One Born Every Minute.".

The couple live in Chiswick, West London, where the Earl takes part in community discussions as Richard Bradford.^[9]

Ancestry

Ancestors of Richard Bridgeman, 7th Earl of Bradford

16. Orlando Bridgeman, 3rd Earl of Bradford               8. George Bridgeman, 4th Earl of Bradford                       17. Hon. Selina Louisa Forester               4. Orlando Bridgeman, 5th Earl of Bradford                             18. Richard Lumley, 9th Earl of Scarbrough               9. Lady Ida Frances Annabella Lumley                       19. Frederica Mary Adeliza Drummond               2. Gerald Bridgeman, 6th Earl of Bradford                                   20. Henry Bruce, 1st Baron Aberdare               10. Henry Bruce, 2nd Baron Aberdare                       21. Annabella Beadon               5. Hon. Margaret Cecilia Bruce                             22. Hamilton Beckett               11. Constance Mary Beckett                       23. Hon. Sophia Clarence Copley               1. Richard Bridgeman, 7th Earl of Bradford                                         12. Alexander Shirley Montgomery                       6. Thomas Hassard Montgomery                             3. Mary Willoughby Montgomery                                   28. Francis Travers Dames-Longworth               14. Edward Travers Dames-Longworth                       29. Frances Tennison Noble               7. Hester Frances Dames-Longworth                             30. Frederick Cockerell               15. Hester Anne Pepys Cockerell                       31. Mary Homan-Mulock

Works

• My Private Parts and The Stuffed Parrot, (1984)
• The Eccentric Cookbook, (1985)
• Stately Secrets, (1994)
• Porters English Cookery Bible – Ancient and Modern, with Carol Wilson, (2004)
• Porters Seasonal Celebrations Cookbook, with Carol Wilson, (2007)

Notes

1. Weston Park Foundation
2. "2001 General Election Results" (PDF). UK House of Commons. 7 June 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2007. p. 98, "Richard Bradford"
3. "West Midlands' Euro candidates". BBC News. 14 May 2004. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
4. "Peter Stringfellow backs Ukip in London council by-election". BBC News. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
5. Cramb, Auslan (11 Dec 2004). "How to lord it over your friends for only £29.99". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
6. Connor, Alan (20 Mar 2006). "Paying for the privilege". BBC News. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
7. "Notts Lordship site provokes anger". This is Nottingham. 25 Mar 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2012. External link in |publisher= (help)
8. "Bridgeman/Bodie engagement". Peerage News.
9. "Chiswick W4 Forum".

References

• "thePeerage". Retrieved 15 November 2006.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Earl of Bradford
• Porters English Restaurant
• Fake Titles – a website run by Lord Bradford
• VIP Internet website
• Stately Homes website
• Restaurant Guide website