Remembering Robin Bryans / Robert Harbinson : 1928-2005

 Remembering Robin Bryans / Robert Harbinson : 1928-2005

Robin Bryans : Ulsterman and Author

A kindly thought today, twenty years since the passing of this controversial author, on the 11 June 2005.

He was an Ulsterman, a poet, travel writer and a thorn in the Establishment’s side.

The extraordinary legacy of this complex and often sadly twisted man, the creator of four scandal ringing volumes of autobiography, often referred to as the 'Conspiracy Theorists Bible', although rambling, is quite a marvel.

Despite the repeated tirades of “ I Accuse” his writings offer a mostly coherent account of his often bohemian life and times and ranks as a compelling black monument to the upper crust, and the seedier side of many well known politicians, publishers, judges, and lawyers of the mid late 20th century.

Fantasist, maybe, but I more than just fancy there are grains of wheat to be found within the chaff, my many years of researches into Bryans various claims proved a perpetual minefield.

Bryans published as Robin Bryans four  remarkable memoirs under the Honeyford Press imprint: The dust has never settled (1992); Let the petals fall (1993), resembling a sequel to a book called  The protégé  from the 1960s, with many digressions. There was also Checkmate: the memories of a political prisoner (1994); and Blackmail and whitewash (1996).

I am indebted to Bryans without whom I could not have written my biographies of Evan Morgan, Viscount Tredegar, in particular " Not Behind Lace Curtains" : The Hidden World of Evan, Viscount Tredegar " ( 2013).

A well written, considerate, and longer narrative on Bryans can be found in the Dictionary of Irish Biography

https://www.dib.ie/biography/bryans-robert-harbinson-robin-harbinson-robert-harbinson-a9413

 

 

HON. GWYNETH ERICKA MORGAN : A 100 YEAR OLD MYSTERY

 

POOR GWYNETH

A CENTURY OF COVER UP  

Today, in 1925

A Body!

100 years ago today, on 25th May 1925, around 6am, about half a mile from London’s Tower Bridge, a routine police boat was patrolling the River Thames. In the very same spot, the lifeless body of young boy who had fallen from off a barge was recovered a few hours before.

Towards Pocock Wharf at Wapping, the tidal displacement brought another body to the surface. The object was moving with the action of the waves. After some delicate manoeuvring, it was brought on board. At first, the officers believed it was the corpse of a man for the hair had been rotted away by its long submersion in the water. The clothing, a mackintosh coat was saturated with mud and disintegrated when touched. Some underwear was discernible as was a shoe attached to one foot. It was the body of a woman. Another report mentions that it had been lying in only five feet of water. It was in an advanced state of decomposition. The facial features were unrecognisable.

During the day, this part of the Thames was one of the nosiest and busiest channels on the River. Here several large steamers were anchored, along with numerous barges. At night time and in the early dawn it was quieter stretch with only the gentle tapping of the waves to be heard as the occasional tug passed along.

Sergeant William Mathers took charge of the body and the boat made for the riverfront.

The rotting remains were taken to Old Church Stairs and then onto the mortuary at Rotherhithe. Here they were later examined by a police surgeon, Dr Fox at 7.45am. Into the afternoon and the evening of the same day, the attachments to the body were studied closely. These particulars were to form part of the crucial evidence leading to putting a name to the corpse.

The garments were fragile the fragments of clothing, were considerably decayed. The first clue as to identity was that one of the under-garments. This had a laundry tag bearing the name of G.E.Morgan; the second clue was a brown shoe, and the third clue was some jewellery around the victim’s neck, two chains, one silver, one gold, the first of these a turquoise pendant, in the form of a bird, which had been broken in several places and mended, the gold chain had a small cross.

For five months, the name of Hon Gwyneth Morgan had been in newspaper headlines across Britain and overseas. There had been a widespread search for her, and when it was apparent that the disappearance was not one of Gwyneth’s pranks, including earlier disappearances when she had informed no one of her plans, her father, Lord Tredegar offered a reward for any information.

Was the mystery of Gwyneth Morgan who had disappeared on 11 December 1924 from a house in Wimbledon, now solved?

The newspapers reported it was. But what is the truth?

Welsh writers, Monty Dart and Will Cross spent 7 years reconstructing the events that led to the discovery of the body - assumed to be Gwyneth's- in the process they were warned to leave matters alone. The terrifying truth was plain, Gwyneth's death - whenever it took place- was a crime, a crime that even now 100 years on remains covered up.

Poor Gwyneth!

Monty and Will's book " A BEAUTIFUL NUISANCE" : THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE HONOURABLE GWYNETH ERICKA MORGAN" is still available.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/115644037

CONTACT THE AUTHOR WILL CROSS

 

williecross@aol.com

 

POOR GWYNETH : THE LIFE AND DEATH OF A WELSH HEIRESS DEEMED A BEAUTIFUL NUISANCE

                              

A TALK TODAY AT PONYTYPOOL, SOUTH WALES

ON THE HONOURABLE GWYNETH ERICKA MORGAN

Hon. Gwyneth Ericka Morgan : ‘ A Beautiful Nuisance’

A Crime Revisited 100 Years On : From William Cross, FSA Scot

“..and all that’s best of dark and light meet in her aspect and her eyes” Byron

Hon. Gwyneth Ericka Morgan: 1895-1925 was one of the richest and as a debutante of 1914, one of the prettiest and alluring of girls. The daughter of Lord Courtenay and Lady Katharine Tredegar of Tredegar House, Newport, and, only sibling of the notorious Evan Morgan, the last Viscount Tredegar.

Gwyneth was wayward and unpredictable. She had an adventurous streak and a reputation for being something of a bohemian in the era of the ‘Bright Young Things’. After a chequered childhood, WW1 & difficult struggle in her 20s and after a period of foreign travel including recuperating from ill health Gwyneth suddenly walked out of a house in Wimbledon on 11 December 1924 where she lived with a housekeeper & maid. She left in a thick London fog with £70 in her pocket. She told no one where she was going. After being missing for five months a rotting corpse, was pulled from the River Thames on 25 May 1925. It was claimed as Gywneth’s. But was it? Who benefited by clearing up Gwyneth’s fate?

We'll never really know for sure what happened to Gwyneth Morgan. After spending 7 years investigating her disappearance her biographers Will Cross and Monty Dart in the book " A Beautiful Nuisance : The Life and Death of the Honourable Gwyneth Ericka Morgan " reached various conclusions but never found finality or peace of mind.

"One of the saddest things about Gwyneth's death" "was the turquoise amulet found on her body. It had been given to her by her brother Evan ( perhaps to ward off evil influences ) , it was held together by a piece of wire from a ginger beer bottle. It must have meant a lot to her."

Today, in May 2025 as we near the centenary of Gwyneth’s re-emergence after a mystery disappearance, and over 5 months of searching and waiting for news Will Cross offers some new evidence he’s gathered behind the whole mystery but still with some unanswered questions , yet sinister overtones.

A small number of copies of the biography of Gwyneth, featured below are still available, reduced to £13.20 (plus UK postage) on ebay, but only for a few days and then the book will wither (like Gwyneth) on the vine.

Click on ebay link

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/205055214519

ENQUIRIES  : PLEASE CONTACT WILL CROSS BY EMAIL :

 

williecross@aol.com

 

POSTED 21 MAY 2025

TOM MITFORD BIOGRAPHY : A FEARFUL OLD TWISTER

 

Click On Image For Full View Of The Book

TOM MITFORD 1909-1945

A FEARFUL OLD TWISTER

The only brother of the outrageous Mitford Sisters

Nancy, Pam, Diana, Unity, Jessica and Deborah

Tom was a beloved son and brother, a barrister, soldier and lover of both sexes. He was killed in Burma fighting the Japanese on 30 March 1945, aged 36

A FULL LENGTH BIOGRAPHY OF TOM FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE BY WILLIAM CROSS FSA, SCOT

The best way of buying the book is on ebay - click on the link below -  or  enquire direct from the Author William Cross  via his email contact address

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/205914483358

 

 

williecross@aol.com

 

 

Top: Tom Mitford in 1931

Bottom : Tom With His Sisters 1935

THE MITFORDS

DENNISTOUN V DENNISTOUN RECALLED FROM 1925

 

 

Dennistoun v Dennistoun

Kings Bench Division, High Court, 1925

“The Dustbin Case”

 Dorothy Dennistoun brought a Civil Court action against her former husband, Ian Dennistoun, a retired Army officer, to recover £1300 she advanced him for bills and loans during their marriage. She also claimed damages for breach of a verbal contract for maintenance.

 The Dennistouns married in 1910 but divorced in 1921. Dorothy was persuaded not to seek maintenance.  Ian said he’d make provision, if he could, at a later date.   In 1920, Dorothy met Almina, Lady Carnarvon through General John Cowans, quartermaster of the British Army during WW1 and a close friend of the Dennistouns.  Later, Ian met Almina, whose husband discovered Tutankhamen’s tomb and famously died from a mosquito-bite in April 1923. Almina and Ian fell in love.

Almina deposited large amounts of money into Ian’s bank account during 1922-3.  Ian repaid Dorothy £500.  She reminded him what amount was owed.  Later, he left an envelope addressed with her pet name “Brown Mouse” containing £100. By September 1923, Dorothy wanted full repayment.  Ian refused to discuss matters except through his solicitors. Meanwhile, Almina installed him in a flashy London apartment, and then in December 1923 they married.

During 1924 no progress was made to settle with Dorothy. On 3 March 1925 The Dustbin Case (said Punch) came before Mr. Justice McCardie.  Sir Ellis Hume-Williams KC representing Dorothy, Sir Edward Marshall Hall KC for Ian. It lasted 17 sordid days, rocking the Establishment, destroying many reputations.

Dorothy was named mistress of General John Cowans.  She claimed she’d only been intimate with him to secure advancement for Ian in the Army.  Cowans  - a legend – had died in 1921 – and was given a State funeral.

There was mudslinging all-round. Dorothy’s team claimed she’d been intimidated by claims about her misconduct. Ian’s team described Dorothy as a blackmailer misusing private letters written by him ( pet name “Tiger” ).

The case dominated newspaper headlines for weeks. Well-dressed women camped in the Strand to visit the Court scene. The King wrote to the Lord Chancellor of his  “disgust and shame” about the case.

Edward Marshall Hall – who’d misguidedly taken the brief as a friend of Ian - lost control of his attacks on Dorothy, she remained cool throughout 14 hours of cross-examination.  Her immorality was exposed with many lovers named.  One, a Spaniard, Bolin (with whom she fell pregnant and was to marry) was cited as the true reason for divorcing Dennistoun.  And that Dorothy had only taken the proceedings as Ian’s new wife was very rich and was sure she’d want to settle out of Court.   It was said “ Tiger” Dennistoun was fully aware and encouraged Dorothy’s liaisons with Cowans.  Ian’s appointments between 1913-17 were orchestrated by Cowans, first as a favour, then only for sex.   In 1916, Ian visited the Ritz Hotel, Paris ahead of Cowans seducing Dorothy to ensure everything was laid-on.   Dorothy impressed the Jury who awarded her £5000 damages. The Judge said this was inconsistent with the law. He gave judgement in favour of Dorothy’s claims for only £472.18 ruling “there was no binding agreement to support her.”  The case incurred ten-of-thousands of pounds in costs and lawyers’ fees, neither party saved face.   Interestingly it was the last divorce case of endless dirty-washing being hung out in public.  Despite a strong protest campaign by the Press, Parliament passed the Judicial Proceedings (Regulation of Reports) Act 1926 prohibiting the detailed reporting of divorce cases in newspapers. MORE INFORMATION CONTACT WILLIAM CROSS COPIES OF THE BOOK ARE STILL AVAILABLE FROM WILL williecross@aol.com

DENNISTOUN v DENNISTOUN REMEMBERED FROM 1925

 

 

Dennistoun v Dennistoun

Kings Bench Division, High Court, 1925

“The Dustbin Case”

 Dorothy Dennistoun brought a Civil Court action against her former husband, Ian Dennistoun, a retired Army officer, to recover £1300 she advanced him for bills and loans during their marriage. She also claimed damages for breach of a verbal contract for maintenance.

The Dennistouns married in 1910 but divorced in 1921. Dorothy was persuaded not to seek maintenance.  Ian said he’d make provision, if he could, at a later date.   In 1920, Dorothy met Almina, Lady Carnarvon through General John Cowans, quartermaster of the British Army during WW1 and a close friend of the Dennistouns.  Later, Ian met Almina, whose husband discovered Tutankhamen’s tomb and famously died from a mosquito-bite in April 1923. Almina and Ian fell in love.

Almina deposited large amounts of money into Ian’s bank account during 1922-3.  Ian repaid Dorothy £500.  She reminded him what amount was owed.  Later, he left an envelope addressed with her pet name “Brown Mouse” containing £100. By September 1923, Dorothy wanted full repayment.  Ian refused to discuss matters except through his solicitors. Meanwhile, Almina installed him in a flashy London apartment, and then in December 1923 they married.

During 1924 no progress was made to settle with Dorothy. On 3 March 1925 The Dustbin Case (said Punch) came before Mr. Justice McCardie.  Sir Ellis Hume-Williams KC representing Dorothy, Sir Edward Marshall Hall KC for Ian. It lasted 17 sordid days, rocking the Establishment, destroying many reputations.

Dorothy was named mistress of General John Cowans.  She claimed she’d only been intimate with him to secure advancement for Ian in the Army.  Cowans  - a legend – had died in 1921 – and was given a State funeral.

There was mudslinging all-round. Dorothy’s team claimed she’d been intimidated by claims about her misconduct. Ian’s team described Dorothy as a blackmailer misusing private letters written by him ( pet name “Tiger” ).

The case dominated newspaper headlines for weeks. Well-dressed women camped in the Strand to visit the Court scene. The King wrote to the Lord Chancellor of his  “disgust and shame” about the case.

Edward Marshall Hall – who’d misguidedly taken the brief as a friend of Ian - lost control of his attacks on Dorothy, she remained cool throughout 14 hours of cross-examination.  Her immorality was exposed with many lovers named.  One, a Spaniard, Bolin (with whom she fell pregnant and was to marry) was cited as the true reason for divorcing Dennistoun.  And that Dorothy had only taken the proceedings as Ian’s new wife was very rich and was sure she’d want to settle out of Court.   It was said “ Tiger” Dennistoun was fully aware and encouraged Dorothy’s liaisons with Cowans.  Ian’s appointments between 1913-17 were orchestrated by Cowans, first as a favour, then only for sex.   In 1916, Ian visited the Ritz Hotel, Paris ahead of Cowans seducing Dorothy to ensure everything was laid-on.   Dorothy impressed the Jury who awarded her £5000 damages. The Judge said this was inconsistent with the law. He gave judgement in favour of Dorothy’s claims for only £472.18 ruling “there was no binding agreement to support her.”  The case incurred ten-of-thousands of pounds in costs and lawyers’ fees, neither party saved face.   Interestingly it was the last divorce case of endless dirty-washing being hung out in public.  Despite a strong protest campaign by the Press, Parliament passed the Judicial Proceedings (Regulation of Reports) Act 1926 prohibiting the detailed reporting of divorce cases in newspapers.

The Dustbin Case

 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION  CONTACT WILLIAM CROSS. COPIES OF THE BOOK ARE STILL AVAILABLE FROM WILL. EMAIL BELOW

 williecross@aol.com

 

 

BEECHWOOD : A STORY OF CHILDHOOD FROM WILLIAM CROSS, FSA SCOT

 

    Beechwood : A Story of Childhood

Anecdotes  from Author William Cross, FSA Scot recounting his childhood in Scotland in the 1950s and 1960s. 

Beechwood, Cleland, was the Cross family home from 1900-1965

                                                                       

                                                              BEECHWOOD TODAY

Quotes On Childhood

 “Childhood has its secrets and its mysteries; but who can tell or who can explain them!”     Max Muller 

 “What was wonderful about childhood is that anything in it was a wonder. It was not merely a world full of miracles; it was a miraculous world.” GK Chesterton

 "We carry our childhood with us.”– Gary D. Schmidt

The passage of time changes a village landscape. We have a responsibility to record something about the place(s) where we grew-up and recall to memory the people and things remembered from time-past.

 

The recounting of this is important : it is of value to the next generation to pass on to them: and to ourselves it is a sort of life passage. It can be a mix of the wonderfully sentimental exorcising some ghosts, but not everyone has pleasant memories to recapture from childhood.

 

In this illustrated talk Will Cross recalls to life some of the affectionate memories of his childhood and family roots. The work was inspired by his late parents Daisy & John, his  late grandmother Peggy Bryce  and late brother Charlie, who died aged 40 in 1995.

    BEECHWOOD, CLELAND, BY LANARK, SCOTLAND

 

There are stories of ghosts, spies, writers in the family, including science fiction  guru, John Keir Cross,  singers, including Dickie Valentine, and the importance to the family of Kate's Well, a natural spring of 15th century origin, from the ancient hills nearby at Shotts. 

The tribute is also to  the village of Cleland, in Lanarkshire, Scotland and a precious period of childhood lived   at Beechwood, Cleland the family home of the Crosses and collaterals from 1900-1965.

 Cleland remains a small,  proud and   charming  village in Lanarkshire, Scotland with an industrial past, a famous old iron works at Omoa ( an adjoining hamlet to Cleland) and a notable brick making company based at Auchinlea (another hamlet).

                                         AUCHINLEA

They make them "big" in Lanarkshire: Take John Weir...

An 8-Stone Baby!  Cambusnethan’s famous "giant baby"  is buried in the old churchyard. The stone is now  almost unreadable but the transcription is ---

"Erected by John Weir and Jean Elder of this parish in memory of their son James who died 20th August 1821 aged 17 months and 9 days. This child, when only 13 months, measured 3 feet 4 inches in height, 39 inches round the body, 20 inches round the thigh and weighed 8 stones. Said at the time by the medical faculties of Edinburgh and Glasgow to be the most remarkable child of his age on record". 

William Cross, FSA Scot is a writer, researcher and lecturer based at Newport, South Wales. He is the author of books on the Morgans of Tredegar House, Newport and on the Carnarvons of Highclere Casle ( Downton Abbey).

On the subject of families past,  Will's latest book, is  a biography of Tom Mitford, the only boy in that outrageous family of six Mitford  women, all seeking attention.   

         TOM MITFORD : A FEARFUL OLD TWISTER

ONLY BROTHER OF THE OUTRAGEOUS MITFORD SISTERS

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/205693505961

Enquiries about books, talks, e-mail Will

williecross@aol.com

williecross@virginmedia.com                        

 

In " Lockdown"  in 2020/1 Will wrote a book " Beechwood : A Story of Childhood"  which he reads from during talks.

It's impossible to finish recollections of childhood without quoting the famous lines about parents, from dear old Philip Larkin.