Samuel Vestey, 3rd Baron Vestey


Samuel George Armstrong Vestey, 3rd Baron Vestey, is a British peer, landowner, and businessman. Lord Vestey served as Master of the Horse to The Queen.

Early life

Samuel Vestey was born on 19 March 1941, the son of Captain Hon. William Howarth Vestey, a member of the Scots Guards who was killed in action in 1944 during the Second World War. Through his mother, Lady Vestey, he is a great-grandson of the celebrated opera singer Dame Nellie Melba. He was educated at Eton College, before attending Sandhurst and serving as a Lieutenant in the Scots Guards.

Business career

Vestey has been the chairman of the Vestey Group since 1995, and was the chairman of the Meat Training Council from 1991 to 1995. He is also a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Butchers. In 1980, A Sunday Times investigation revealed that he and his cousin Edmund were found to have paid just £10 in tax on the family business's £2.3m profit made by the Dewhurst chain.

Wave Hill walk-off

In popular culture

Vestey's battle with the native Australian Gurindji people over working conditions and native land claims was chronicled in Paul Kelly's song "From Little Things Big Things Grow", originally released on his 1991 album Comedy. Vestey also features in Ted Egan's song "Gurindji Blues", which is about the land rights and working conditions of Australian aboriginal people at Wave Hill Station in the Northern Territory.

Public service

In 1954 Vestey succeeded his grandfather in the peerage title at the age of thirteen. His family seat is Stowell Park Estate in Gloucestershire, where his father is buried.
He was Chancellor and Lord Prior of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem having been appointed Bailiff Grand Cross in 1987. He became a Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire in 1982.
Vestey has served as Master of the Horse to the Royal Household, to the Sovereign of the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2018, who appointed him Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2009 Birthday Honours.
The Queen promoted Lord Vestey to Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in December 2018, on the occasion of him relinquishing his appointment as Master of the Horse. Vestey was appointed as a permanent Lord-in-waiting to The Queen in August 2019.

Personal life

Vestey married Kathryn Eccles on 11 September 1970 and they were divorced in 1981. They have two daughters and four grandchildren:
He married Celia Knight on 22 December 1981. They have three children:
His elder son, the Hon. William Guy Vestey, served as a Page of Honour to Queen Elizabeth II from 1995 to 1998.
The Vestey family's combined wealth amounts to approximately £1.2 billion according to the Sunday Times Rich List 2013.

Honours