Adrian Foley, 8th Baron Foley
Encyclopedia
Adrian Gerald Foley, 8th Baron Foley (born 9 August 1923) is a British
peer
and a former composer
and pianist
.
Upon the death of his father, the 7th Baron Foley, in 1927, Foley succeeded to his title at the age of three. In 1946, he composed music for the film Piccadilly Incident
and for Bond Street
in 1947. He has also written music for such writers as Eric Maschwitz
and Phil Park, amongst others. Lord Foley also appeared on an episode of the American
game show
, "To Tell the Truth
" in 1957.
In 1958, he met the wealthy American heiress, Patricia Meek during a production of Huntington Hartford
's Jane Eyre with Errol Flynn
, in New York City
. On 23 December of that year, the couple were married and they had two children, Alexandra Mary
(b. 1960) and Thomas Henry (b. 1961) before divorcing in 1971. In 1972, he married another wealthy heiress, Ghislaine née Dresselhuys
(an ex-wife of the 6th Earl of Caledon
and the 4th Baron Ashcombe), the only daughter of Dutch-born Long Island
resident and former Consul of the Netherlands
in London
, Cornelius William Dresselhuys and Edith née Merandon du Plessis (an ex-wife of the 1st Viscount Kemsley
). His second wife died in 2000 and on 15 December 2003, he married Hannah Steinberg.
Lord Foley enjoys golf
and has maintained properties near to the golfing areas of the Andalusia
n region of Spain
for several decades. He owns property in Belgravia
, London
and currently lives in retirement near Marbella
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
and a former composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
.
Upon the death of his father, the 7th Baron Foley, in 1927, Foley succeeded to his title at the age of three. In 1946, he composed music for the film Piccadilly Incident
Piccadilly Incident
Piccadilly Incident is a 1946 British drama film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle, Michael Wilding, Coral Browne, Edward Rigby and Leslie Dwyer. A married woman is believed dead in a shipwreck, but returns home with the Second World War at its height to find her husband remarried....
and for Bond Street
Bond Street (film)
Bond Street is a 1948 British drama film directed by Gordon Parry and based on a story by Terence Rattigan. It starred Jean Kent, Roland Young, Kathleen Harrison and Derek Farr...
in 1947. He has also written music for such writers as Eric Maschwitz
Eric Maschwitz
Albert Eric Maschwitz OBE , known as Eric Maschwitz and sometimes credited as Holt Marvell, was an English entertainer, writer, broadcaster and broadcasting executive.-Life and work:...
and Phil Park, amongst others. Lord Foley also appeared on an episode of the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
, "To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth is an American television panel game show created by Bob Stewart and produced by Goodson-Todman Productions that has aired in various forms since 1956 both on networks and in syndication...
" in 1957.
In 1958, he met the wealthy American heiress, Patricia Meek during a production of Huntington Hartford
Huntington Hartford
George Huntington Hartford II was an American businessman, philanthropist, filmmaker, and art collector. The heir to the A&P supermarket fortune, he owned Paradise Island in the Bahamas, and had numerous other business and real estate interests over his lifetime including the Oil Shale Corporation...
's Jane Eyre with Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn
Errol Leslie Flynn was an Australian-born actor. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films, being a legend and his flamboyant lifestyle.-Early life:...
, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. On 23 December of that year, the couple were married and they had two children, Alexandra Mary
Alexandra Foley
The Hon. Alexandra Mary Foley is a British entrepreneur.Alexandra Foley was born in London to British Peer Adrian Foley, 8th Baron Foley and Californian society beauty Patricia de Meek...
(b. 1960) and Thomas Henry (b. 1961) before divorcing in 1971. In 1972, he married another wealthy heiress, Ghislaine née Dresselhuys
Ghislaine Alexander
Ghislaine Alexander, née Ghislaine Marie-Rose Edith Dresselhuys was a wealthy heiress and British socialite who was a panelist on the British version of What's My Line?.-Life and times:...
(an ex-wife of the 6th Earl of Caledon
Denis Alexander, 6th Earl of Caledon
Denis James Alexander, 6th Earl of Caledon was a soldier and landownerHe was the son of Lt.-Col. Hon. Herbrand Charles Alexander and Millicent Valla Meredyth and grandson of James Alexander, 4th Earl of Caledon. He was educated at Eton College and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst...
and the 4th Baron Ashcombe), the only daughter of Dutch-born Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
resident and former Consul of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Cornelius William Dresselhuys and Edith née Merandon du Plessis (an ex-wife of the 1st Viscount Kemsley
James Berry, 1st Viscount Kemsley
James Gomer Berry, 1st Viscount Kemsley GBE was a Welsh newspaper publisher.Berry was born the son of John Mathias and Mary Ann Berry, the third of three brothers from Merthyr Tydfil in Wales....
). His second wife died in 2000 and on 15 December 2003, he married Hannah Steinberg.
Lord Foley enjoys golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
and has maintained properties near to the golfing areas of the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
n region of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
for several decades. He owns property in Belgravia
Belgravia
Belgravia is a district of central London in the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Noted for its immensely expensive residential properties, it is one of the wealthiest districts in the world...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and currently lives in retirement near Marbella
Marbella
Marbella is a town in Andalusia, Spain. It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, in the province of Málaga, beneath the La Concha mountain. In 2000 the city had 98,823 inhabitants, in 2004, 116,234, in 2010 approximately 135,000....
.