Lt-Col Robert Campbell-Preston 12th of Ardchattan
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/108770421/person/112054730320/facts
1911 living in Henlade Villa, Henlade Nr Taunton, Somerset
Obituary
20th June 1996
HERALD AND TIMES ARCHIVE
Lt-Col Robert Modan Thorne Campbell-Preston, OBE, MC, JP; born January 7, 1909, died June 16, 1996
Son of Colonel Robert William Pigott Campbell-Preston and Mary Augusta Thorne
ROBERT Campbell-Preston, who died at the weekend aged 85, was born into a long established Argyllshire family, descended from the powerful Campbells of Cawdor in the 16th century. Following his father's example, he played an active role in Argyllshire co mmunity affairs, and from 1976 until 1990 served as Vice-Lieutenant of Argyll & Bute. Enforcing his interest in the wellbeing of young people, he was chairman of the Argyll & Bute Trust which is affiliated to the Prince's Trust.
Educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, where he read Chemistry, Robert Campbell-Preston was a keen countryman, listing as his hobbies shooting and fishing. Following university, he served with the Scottish Horse, attaining the rank of Lt-Colonel, and from 1962 until 1967 was Hon Colonel, Fife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse. In addition, he was a Member of the Royal Company of Archers (Queen's Bodyguard for Scotland).
Unusual for a Scottish landowner, he was very much a hands-on businessman, and in 1945 he co-founded Alginate Industries Ltd, a seaweed processing factory based at Barcaldine, of which he was joint managing director. In 1974 this was acquired by the American giant, Kelco.
Ardchattan Priory, the Campbell-Preston's family home on the north shore of Loch Etive was where Robert the Bruce, having defeated the Macdougall Lords of Lorn, called a parliament in 1309. Said to be the second longest-inhabited house in Scotland, it passed to the Campbell family in the late 16th century and has remained with them ever since.
When garrisoned for Charles II in the following century it was burnt and plundered by forces loyal to Oliver Cromwell leaving tell-tale signs of singeing upon the current structure. Enlarged and rebuilt in the last century, the house has a celebrated wild garden, largely created by Robert Campbell-Preston and his mother.
In 1950 he married the Hon Angela Pearson, 3rd daughter of the 2nd Viscount Cowdray, the widow of his friend, Lt Colonel George Murray who had been killed in action in Italy five years earlier. In so doing, he became step-father to the late 10th Duke of Atholl, who died in February, and inherited the Blair Atholl estate, including Blair Castle.
A further family bereavement occured earlier this year when his great-niece, Laura Campbell-Preston was tragically killed by a crocodile in Africa.
Their daughter Sarah was born the following year in London
Throughout Robert's lifetime, Ardchattan Priory provided a cherished family focus which he somehow managed to sustain after Angela's death in 1981. As a result, Ardchattan has always thrown its doors open to visitors and friends of all age groups. Latterly it became a stopping-off location for the up-market Royal Scotsman Train, bringing passengers from all over the world to admire the celebrated three acres of herbaceous borders, shrub roses, rowans and species of sorbus.
A kindly, generous man, Robert Campbell-Preston was much loved and respected by all who knew him. He is survived by his daughter, Mrs James Troughton, and his three grandchildren, Jane, Claire and Robert.
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