Madeleine Gurdon Explained

Honorific Prefix:The Right Honourable
The Lady Lloyd-Webber
Birth Name:Madeleine Astrid Gurdon
Nationality:British
Birth Date:30 November 1962
Sport:Equestrian
Country:Great Britain

Madeleine Astrid Gurdon, Baroness Lloyd-Webber (born 30 November 1962) is an English horsewoman. She is married to composer and theatrical impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Early life

Madeleine "Gurtie" Gurdon was born in 1962 into a military family, one of four sisters. Her father, uncle and grandfather were all in the Black Watch, as was her mother's father.[1]

Her father, Adam Gurdon, retired as a brigadier, before his marriage serving in Korea and later in Kenya during the Mau Mau Uprising. As a married man, he took his family around the world, including Cyprus, Tanganyika, and Hong Kong.[1] [2] Madeleine Gurdon was educated at a convent school.[3]

Career

Madeleine Gurdon was an equestrian competitor for nearly a decade, riding in three-day events, which require the same horse and rider pair to demonstrate skill in dressage, showjumping, and cross-country riding. In the 1980s she competed internationally, coming second at the Burghley Horse Trials in 1988.[4] To supplement her riding career, Gurdon designed an exclusive country-wear company that featured leather and suede clothing [3] called The Done Thing, after her favourite dun horse.

She began to breed and train thoroughbreds for flat racing. She owns and supervises two stud farms: Watership Down Stud near her English home in Sydmonton Court, and Kiltinan Castle stud in Ireland.[5] Dar Re Mi is one of her successful broodmares.[4]

She and her husband set up the Watership Down Polo Club; their children play polo.[6] In 2007 she allowed a group from St Bart's, a local school, to practise there, subsidising their training. The state school team went on to beat fee-paying schools such as Rugby and Cheltenham Ladies College in the Schools and Universities Polo Association Cup.[7] Gurdon then commissioned family friend Emerald Fennell to write a rom-com loosely based on this.[8]

In 2010 she became president of the Pony Club, which she has been involved with all her life.[4] According to Companies House, as of 2021 she has roles in eight companies, including as a director in her husband's Really Useful Group.[9] She is the only woman on the board of Newbury Racecourse.[10]

Personal life

Gurdon married Andrew Lloyd Webber at his Hampshire home, Sydmonton Court, on 9 February 1991. The couple met through his Watership Down neighbours, who loved horses. [11]

They have three children together: Alastair (born 1992), William (born 1993) and Isabella (born 1996). The family divides its time between properties in London and Hampshire.[12]

Notes and References

  1. News: Brenan . Victoria . Obituary: Adam Gurdon, Black Watch officer who served in Korea and Kenya and helped steer Rhodesia towards independence . 18 October 2021 . HeraldScotland . 6 July 2019 . en.
  2. News: Jefford . Will . Tributes paid to decorated war hero and community stalwart Brigadier Adam Gurdon . 18 October 2021 . East Anglian Daily Times . 6 June 2019 . en-UK.
  3. Web site: Gliatto . Tom . Andrew Lloyd Webber Leaves His Leading Lady—as His Aspect of Love Turns to a Woman Named Gurtie . People.com . 2015-09-19.
  4. News: Mathieson . Amy . Lady Lloyd Webber becomes new president of the Pony Club . 18 October 2021 . Horse & Hound . 5 January 2010 . en.
  5. News: Lloyd Webber rides to the rescue . The Times . 1 December 2016.
  6. Web site: Polo Times News - Lady Lloyd Webber takes the reins as president of the Pony Club . polotimes.co.uk . 18 October 2021.
  7. News: Lady Lloyd Webber helps state pupils beat toffs at polo . 18 October 2021 . Reuters . 31 July 2007 . en.
  8. News: Why Emerald Fennell is the hidden gem in hit drama Any Human Heart . 18 October 2021 . www.standard.co.uk . 10 April 2012 . en.
  9. Web site: Madeleine Astrid LLOYD WEBBER personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK . find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk . 18 October 2021 . en.
  10. Web site: Ltd . Indzine . The Board . Newbury Racecourse . 18 October 2021.
  11. Web site: 'The Phantom of the Opera': Ghosts of a love affair - Features - Theatre & Dance - The Independent . Enjoyment.independent.co.uk . 2006-01-05 . 2015-09-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070312193325/http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/theatre/features/article336639.ece . 2007-03-12 .
  12. Web site: Sydmonton Festival . Andrew Lloyd Webber . 2015-09-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150921180146/http://www.andrewlloydwebber.com/about/sydmonton-festival/ . 2015-09-21 . dead .