Charles Chetwynd-Talbot, 22nd Earl of Shrewsbury


Charles Henry John Benedict Crofton Chetwynd Chetwynd-Talbot, 22nd Earl of Shrewsbury, 22nd Earl of Waterford, 7th Earl Talbot, , styled Viscount Ingestre until 1980, is an English nobleman and the Lord High Steward of Ireland. He is the premier earl in the Peerage of England as the Earl of Shrewsbury, and in the Peerage of Ireland as the Earl of Waterford. He also holds the titles of Earl Talbot and Baron Talbot.

Background and education

He is the fifth child and eldest son of John Chetwynd-Talbot, 21st Earl of Shrewsbury, and his first wife, Nadine Crofton, daughter of Brigadier General Cyril Randell Crofton. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, was his godfather. His parents divorced in 1963. He was educated at Harrow School.

Political career

Lord Shrewsbury is one of the 92 hereditary peers elected to sit in the House of Lords and a whip for the Conservative and Unionist Party, after previously enjoying automatic right to sit since succeeding to his father's peerage in 1980. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Staffordshire in 1994.

Other interests

He has remained in later life involved as patron or honorary president of charities including the Staffordshire Historic Churches Trust. He is patron of eleven Anglican benefices.
A frequent country sportsman, Lord Shrewsbury is president of the Gun Trade Association and deputy-chairman of the Standing Conference on Country Sports. He is a liveryman of three London livery companies: the companies of weavers, gunmakers and blacksmiths. He earlier retired as president of the British Shooting Sports Council and the Firearms Consultative Committee at the Home Office. He is a member of the Army & Navy Club and Pratt's Club. Lord Shrewsbury has derived an income over many years by divesting himself of Manorial Titles through auction houses, a practice which has brought him into the public eye.
He retired in earlier life as Director and Deputy Chairman of Britannia Building Society and President of The Building Societies Association. He promotes British industry and commerce in the United States and at home. He promotes the British shooting sports and its niche manufacture businesses abroad.

Family

On 5 January 1973, he married Deborah Jane Hutchinson, daughter of Noel Staughton Hutchinson and Jenifer Hutchinson of Ellerton, Shropshire. They have three children:
Lord Shrewsbury and his family live near Ashbourne in Derbyshire – a house a few yards into Staffordshire. Lady Shrewsbury was High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 2000.

Arms