Nathaniel Fiennes, 21st Baron Saye and Sele
Nathaniel Fiennes | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nathaniel Thomas Allen Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes 22 September 1920 |
| Died | 20 January 2024 (aged 103) |
| Other names | Lord Saye and Sele |
| Occupation(s) | Nobleman, entrepreneur, chartered surveyor, military officer |
| Known for | 21st Baron Saye and Sele |
Nathaniel Thomas Allen Fiennes, 21st Baron Saye and Sele, born Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes on 22 September 1920 and passing away on 20 January 2024, was an English nobleman, entrepreneur, qualified chartered surveyor, and military officer, commonly known as Lord Saye and Sele.
Early life and education
He was born to Ivo Murray Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, the 20th Baron Saye and Sele, and Hersey Cecilia Hester Butler on 22 September 1920. His education was completed at Eton College followed by New College, Oxford. During his time at Eton, he appeared in minor counties cricket for Oxfordshire County Cricket Club, participating once in the 1938 Minor Counties Championship against Cornwall. The outbreak of the Second World War halted first-class cricket during his university years.
Army career
Fiennes served with the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) throughout the Second World War. He was granted an emergency commission on 19 April 1941, advanced to war-substantive lieutenant by October 1942, and attained temporary captain status in September 1943. His distinguished service in North-West Europe earned him a mention in despatches in March 1945.
In April 1945, he and the Rifle Brigade’s 8th Battalion were among the initial troops to arrive at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. He recounted the harrowing conditions to the Daily Telegraph: "People being chopped up, people on the ground, pits with three or four hundred dead bodies in each ... It was like something from a nightmare." Prior to the camp’s 75th liberation anniversary, he met survivor Mala Tribich at his family home, expressing profound admiration for her endurance.
Following the war, Fiennes continued his military career. In January 1946, he held the ranks of war-substantive captain and temporary major. By May 1948, he received a regular commission as lieutenant with seniority backdated to 1943 and was promoted to captain concurrently. During the Palestine Emergency (1946–1947), he served actively and was again mentioned in despatches in January 1949. He formally resigned his commission in February 1950, retaining the honorary rank of major.
Later work
Between 1959 and 1995, Fiennes was a trustee of the Ernest Cook Trust, an organization dedicated to conserving English country estates and houses. He chaired this trust from 1964 through 1990. Additionally, he was a Fellow of Winchester College from 1967 until 1983 and held the presidency of the Banbury Historical Society from 1958 until his passing.
His professional credentials included qualification as a chartered surveyor. He worked as a partner at Laws and Fiennes before taking on the role of regional director at Lloyds Bank between 1983 and 1990.
In recognition of his service to Oxfordshire, he was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) in 1979.
Family
In 1958, Nathaniel Fiennes married Mariette Helena Salisbury-Jones (born 1935), daughter of Major-General Sir Arthur Guy Salisbury-Jones. The couple had five offspring:
- Hon. Richard Ingel Fiennes (1959–2001)
- Martin Guy Fiennes (born 1961)
- Hon. Susannah Hersey Fiennes (born 1961)
- Hon. Thomas Nathaniel Fiennes (1965–1968)
- Hon. William John Fiennes (born 1970)
In 1965, he officially shortened his surname to Fiennes, omitting Twisleton and Wykeham.
His brother Ingelram lost his life during World War II; another sibling, Oliver, served as Dean of Lincoln from 1969 until 1989.
Upon his father’s death in 1968, Nathaniel succeeded as the 21st Baron Saye and Sele. He died aged 103 on 20 January 2024.