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We regret to announce the death, which took place at his home, Moreton, Bideford, yesterday (Thursday) of Sir Hugh Nicholas Granville Stucley, Bart. JP, of Affeton Castle, senior honorary freeman of the Borough of Bideford and one who, when he was accorded the honour 21 years ago, was described as a ‘A Bidefordian of Bidefordians’.

1956 Sir Hugh Stucley dies

Sir Hugh, who was 83, was a member of a family connected with the borough and district for generations and holding land in Devon for a thousand years. On his mother’ side Sir Hugh was a direct descendent of the Grenvilles who formerly held the Manor of Bideford.
Himself an ex-Mayor of the borough, which office he held in 1912, he is succeeded in the title by his eldest son, Mr Dennis F B Stucley, of Hartland Abbey, who just over two years ago became the 38th member of the family descent to hold that civic office. Sir Hugh, who was the fourth baronet, succeeded to the title in 1927. He had given devoted public service to the town and country. For some 20 years he was a member of Bideford Town Council and he also served as a County Councillor, becoming County Alderman. He was a former chairman of the County Bench, for very many years a member of the Bridge Trust, a governor of Bideford Grammar School with which the family had been identified from its earliest days, and he served on numerous other bodies.
A much respected landowner, Sir Hugh was a keen and skilled landscape gardener. His garden at Moreton, which he created, won, it might be said, almost world-wide renown.
In 1936 Sir Hugh had his right foot amputated but when an artificial limb was fitted he was again seen about, continuing his lively interest in local affairs. His wife predeceased him in 1950. In addition to the new baronet, who is this year’s High Sheriff of Devon, there are two other sons, Lieut-Commander John Stucley DSC, and Mr Bernard Stucley, and two daughters, Mrs Elizabeth Northmore and the Countess Zamoyska.
The funeral takes place at St Mary’s Parish Church, Bideford, at 1.30pm on Monday, followed by cremation at Plymouth. His ashes will be scattered on Affeton Moor.

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