Ronald Ferguson (polo) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ronald Ferguson
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|---|---|
| Born | 10 October 1931 London, England
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| Died | 16 March 2003 (aged 71) Basingstoke, Hampshire, England
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| Title | Major Ronald Ferguson |
| Spouse(s) |
Susan Wright
(m. 1956; div. 1974)Susan Deptford
(m. 1975) |
| Children | Jane Luedecke Sarah, Duchess of York Andrew Ferguson Alice Stileman Eliza Cobb |
| Parent(s) | Andrew Henry Ferguson Marian Montagu Douglas Scott |
Major Ronald Ivor Ferguson (born 10 October 1931 – died 16 March 2003) was a manager for the sport of polo. He first worked for the Duke of Edinburgh. Later, he managed the polo activities for Charles, Prince of Wales for many years.
Ronald Ferguson's daughter is Sarah, Duchess of York. She was formerly married to Prince Andrew, Duke of York. This makes Ronald Ferguson the grandfather of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
Contents
Life Story of Ronald Ferguson
Growing Up and School
Ronald Ferguson was born in London, England. His father was Colonel Andrew Henry Ferguson. His mother was Marian Montagu Douglas Scott. She was a cousin to Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott, who later became Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester.
Ronald grew up on a farm called Dummer Down Farm. This farm was in Dummer, near Basingstoke in Hampshire. He went to Ludgrove School and then to Eton College. After that, he trained at the Sandhurst military academy.
Military Career
In February 1952, Ronald Ferguson joined the Life Guards. This was the same army regiment his father had been in. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1954. Then, he became a Captain in 1958.
He served with his regiment in different places around the world. These included Germany, Egypt, Aden, and Cyprus. In 1968, he left the army and was given the honorary rank of Major.
His Love for Polo
After leaving the army, Ronald Ferguson focused on polo. Polo is a team sport played on horseback. His passion for polo often brought him into contact with the Royal Family. Because of this connection, his daughter, Sarah, met Prince Andrew.
In 1979, he was part of the England II polo team. They played alongside Alan Kent, Patrick Churchward, and Charles, Prince of Wales. Together, they won the Silver Jubilee Cup. Ronald Ferguson was a well-known figure in the polo world. He worked as the polo manager for the Prince of Wales for a long time. He was also involved with the Guards Polo Club.
Family Life
Ronald Ferguson was married twice. His first wife was Susan Wright. They got married in London in 1956. They had two daughters:
- Jane Louisa Ferguson (born 1957)
- Sarah Margaret Ferguson (born 1959), who became the Duchess of York. She married Prince Andrew, Duke of York in 1986. They are the parents of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
Ronald and Susan divorced in 1974. After his father passed away, Ronald inherited Dummer Down Farm. His family moved there.
In 1976, Ronald Ferguson married his second wife, Susan Rosemary Deptford. They had three children together:
- Andrew Frederick John Ferguson (born 1978)
- Alice Victoria Ferguson (born 1980)
- Elizabeth Charlotte "Eliza" Ferguson (born 1985)
Later Years and Health
In his later life, Ronald Ferguson sometimes appeared in the media. He would speak out to support his daughter, Sarah. He also worked to raise awareness about prostate cancer.
He battled cancer for the last ten years of his life. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1996. He also had skin cancer. In November 2002, he had a heart attack. Ronald Ferguson passed away on 16 March 2003, at the age of 71. He died from a heart attack in Basingstoke, England.
