William Cross ( Will ) spent 28 years as a Civil Servant in London. He took early retirement in July 2005 to concentrate on writing and research. His roots are Scottish, although he now lives in Wales. He is the author of many articles and booklets on Scottish history and genealogy topics.  He is a regular Lecturer at the Society of Genealogists, London, on Scottish subjects. He was Editor of Renfrewshire Family History Society’s Journal from 1999-2011. A Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland since 1984, he is also a founder member of Newport’s Screwpacket Playwrights and an authority on the Morgan women of Tredegar House, the one time seat of the Lords Tredegar. Will is also a member of the Society of Authors.

                                Almina, Countess of Carnarvon

Despite the passage of more than  80 years,  the fascinating  legacy of Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter’s 14 year obsession in the Valley of the Kings which led to the immense discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhaman continues to attract close attention.  But the many dozens of books on the quest itself, those on the treasures exploited,  and the curse surrounding  the curious death of Lord Carnarvon and others have nearly exhausted the subject more than any other adventure tale.

Carnarvon’s remarkable widow and patron Almina, Countess of Carnarvon, has never been subject to  an extensive appraisal except  for the odd minor write-up and the coverage of  her sometimes enforced part in the 5^th  Earl’s  long escapades in Egypt.  

Writer and researcher, William Cross, FSA Scot,  has now completed the biography  of Almina Carnarvon.  Who was this woman?  What were her triumphs and disasters? Who were her loves and what were her loaths?   What became of her after all the limelight from her past had faded?

The Life and Secrets of Almina Carnarvon reveals the story of woman beneath the legend of the discoverer of King Tut's tomb, who lived to the great age of 92.

Lady Carnarvon was born Almina Victoria Marie Alexandra Wombwell ) ( although it was later claimed that she the illegitimate daughter of  Baron Alfred de Rothschild,  a member of the great Jewish banking family.

Almina’s mother was Marie Boyer,  a woman of French descent, who married Frederick Wombwell a brother of Sir George Wombwell of Newburgh Park, Yorkshire. There was one son, a half-brother to Lady Carnarvon,  Frederick Charles Wombwell,  who died in 1912, aged only 42.  When Marie and Wombwell were estranged Alfred de Rothschild became her lover and father to Marie’s second child,  who was named Almina after the pet name of "Mina" Alfred gave to Marie. 

Almina’s life was especially fulfilled in War  time  ( the First and Second World Wars ) by the creation of hospitals for wounded soldiers and airmen and later by her generous patronage and huge personal input and sacrifice into the nursing homes that bore her name.   

A separate project is being undertaken on the marital scandal that rocked the establishment,  80 odd years ago in Dennistoun v  Dennistoun from 1925.   That case features  Almina, Countess of Carnarvon as the wife of the defendant in the malarchy,  Lt  Colonel Ian Onslow Dennistoun, whom Almina had married in December 1923, barely 8 months after the 5^th Earl’s death.     Colonel Dennistoun was sued by her first wife Dorothy Muriel Dennistoun ( formerly Dorothy Webster )  for a relatively small amount of money.  However, the case became an extraordinary  mud slinging affair lasting 17 days in the High Court, in London and resulted in many good names in British Society being  tarnished.  The King himself, George V,  was disturbed  and disgusted by the day by day disclosures. 

Contact Will by e-mail at williecross@aol.com