Lady Evelyn Cobbold (1867-1963), eldest child of the Earl and Countess of Dunmore and sometime wife of John Dupuis Cobbold (1861-1929) wrote three books herself and has been the subject of a good many articles reporting mainly on her conversion to Islam and her completion of the Hajj at the age of 66. She was a great sportswoman and chatelaine of the Glencarron Estate in Wester Ross which explains her liking for the fine Scottish tweed skirts for which she became well known.
That she was a lady of good taste has been confirmed just recently by Roberto Verboon who contacted the Trust from Holland to say that he had recently acquired a Rolls Royce, previously the property of Lady Evelyn. He has generously sent us photographs of the car and given us a little of its history.
It is a 20/25 model having chassis number GHW33 and registration plate JJ 1492 fitted with a Thrupp & Maberly, D-back, enclosed drive, limousine body. It was ordered in 1932 and delivered to Lady Evelyn at 24 Mount Row, roughly half way between Grosvenor and Berkeley Squares, on 5th January 1933. Her chauffeur, despite the strictest instructions to the contrary, tried to carry out some maintenance on the car whilst in Scotland and being unable to reassemble the components caused a Rolls Royce fitter to be despatched from London at great expense. Needless to say, he lost his job!
Lady Evelyn only kept the car for about 4 years but it stayed in this country until 1976 when it was sold to Holland and used as a wedding car until its latest acquisition. It has been re-upholstered and was black all over when first sold but that apart is in original condition and running well.
Our thanks to Roberto Verboon and our best wishes for his future enjoyment of the car.
Lady Evelyn is # 308 and John Dupuis Cobbold is # 307 on the family tree.
© 2012 The Cobbold Family History Trust
