Elspet Jean (Macgregor-Gray) Gray (1929 - 2013)

Born 12 Apr 1929 in Inverness, Inverness-shire, Scotland

Wife of Brian Norman Roger Rix — married 1949 in Holderness, Yorkshire, England

Died 18 Feb 2013 at age 83 in London, England, United Kingdom

Biography

Elspet (Macgregor-Gray) Gray is Notable.

Elspet Jean Gray, Baroness Rix, was a Scottish actress.

Birth

She was born as Elspet Jean MacGregor Gray on 12 April 1929 in Inverness, Inverness-shire, Scotland, with her birth being registered in both Inverness ^[1] and Elgin. ^[2]

Education

Elspet was educated at St Margaret's, Hastings, England and at a convent in India (Presentation Convent, Srinagar, in the Kashmir Valley) where her father worked for a bank. ^[3]

She then trained at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).^[3]

Marriage

After a long courtship, Elspet Gray married Brian Norman Roger Rix in 1949 in Holderness, Yorkshire, England. ^[4]

Children

Elspeth Gray and Brian Rix had four children:

1. Shelley Elspet Rix (1951-2005)
2. Louisa Rix, an actress and interior designer
3. Jamie Rix, a children's author and TV producer
4. Jonathan Rix, Professor of Participation and Learning Support at the Open University

Acting Career

Elspet Gray first appeared professionally in 1947, in Edward, My Son, a British play written by Noel Langley and Robert Morley, at the Grand theatre, in Leeds, England. In the same year she had her London debut when the play moved to His Majesty's theatre in the West End. She subsequently appeared in Reluctant Heroes, Wolf's Clothing, Uproar in the House and Let Sleeping Wives Lie, (later appearing in the 1968 television movie). She also toured the UK with four Vernon Sylvaine farces, and was in the Toronto, Canada production of Move Over Mrs Markham. In the 1980s she was in The Streets of London, a melodrama, and subsequently Charley's Aunt along with Griff Rhys Jones. ^[3]

Her film roles included an uncredited role as Lady Sutterwick in the star studded 1969 version of Goodbye Mr Chips. She also appeared as Laura's Mother - Wedding One in Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Publicity photo from the 1982 hit BBC Television series The Blackadder with Brian Blessed as King Richard IV of England and Elspet Gray as Queen Gertrude of Flanders. They were the parents of Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh (aka The Black Adder) played by Rowan Atkinson.

Notable television roles included Lady Collingford in Catweazle, Mrs Palmer in Solo, Dr. Abbott in The Psychiatrist (Fawlty Towers), and Gertrude, Queen of Flanders in The Black Adder. Her final television role was in 1998 in an episode of Victoria Wood's situation comedy Dinnerladies.

Courtesy Titles

Elspet Gray's husband Brian Rix was knighted in June 1986 ^[5] which entitled her to use the courtesy title of Lady Rix.

On 27 January 1992, Sir Brian Rix was created a life peer, becoming Baron Rix of Whitehall in the City of Westminster and of Hornsea in Yorkshire ^[6] which entitled her to use the courtesy title of Baroness Rix.

Death

Elspet died on 18 February 2013 in London, England, aged 83. ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ ScotlandsPeople Statutory Birth Register (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk) entry for Elspet Jean MacGregor Gray GRAY ELSPET J MACGRE F 1929 098/A 171 Inverness. Accessed by Dr. Christina McAusland at 05 January 2021 01:09.
2. ↑ ScotlandsPeople Statutory Birth Register (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk) entry for Elspet Jean MacGregor Gray GRAY ELSPET J MACGRE F 1929 135/ 62 Elgin. Accessed by Dr. Christina McAusland at 05 January 2021 01:11.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} The Guardian. Elspet Gray obituary (https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/feb/19/elspet-gray) accessed by Dr. Christina McAusland at 05 January 2021 01:33.
4. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVDH-KW62 : 8 October 2014), Elspet J Macgregor-Gray and null, 1949; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1949, quarter 3, vol. 2A, p. 190, Holderness, Yorkshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
5. ↑ "No. 50759". The London Gazette. 30 December 1986. p. 16784. (https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/50759/page/16784)
6. ↑ "No. 52819". The London Gazette. 30 January 1992. p. 1567. (https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/52819/page/1567)

See also:

• Wikipedia: Elspet Jean Gray, Baroness Rix
• Wikidata: Item Q5036478, en:Wikipedia
• IMDB profile for Elspet Gray