Sarah Frances Constance Lilian Baldock 1882 - 1931

CUPID IN A MOTOR CAR

Three years ago Colonel Edward Holmes Baldock, the wealthy commander of the 3rd County of London Imperial Yeomanry and a Leicestershire County magnate, gave his daughter Miss Sarah Frances Constance Lilian (who is a niece of the Countess of Kilmorey) a motor car as a birthday present. The chauffeur he selected to initiate his daughter into the mysteries of motoring was a very good-looking young man bearing the by no means plebeian name of Cyril Duvall Bishop. Miss Baldock knew nothing about motoring to start with, but very soon became an enthusiast. Day after day, accompanied by the chauffeur, she would indulge in long country drives and golf, tennis, hunting, in their seasons, lost all attractions for the young lady. Not one of her family or friends suspected that the delight of swiftly rushing through the country lanes were not the only attractions the car provided for Miss Baldock until about a year ago. Then it suddenly dawned upon the Colonel that his daughter had fallen violently in love with the chauffeur and his eyes being opened, he very soon discovered that not only had the couple plighted their troth, but had made all arrangements for an early marriage. The Colonel was furious, and, with one exception, the feminine element in the Baldock family, set to work to try to cure Miss Baldock of her infatuation. The chauffeur was approached, and a very considerable sum of money was dangled before his eyes as an inducement to to take himself out of Miss Baldock's life. But Bishop refused firmly to anything of the kind, and all the family's efforts to bring Sarah to her senses were alike fruitless. She wanted her chauffeur for her husband and she meant to have him. However, at that time she was not of age, and the fortune to which she was heiress was not under her control. The family, therefore, decided to see what a separation of the lovers would effect, and sent Miss Baldock first to France and then to Ceylon in the hope that she would forget her lowly lover.  When they imagined a cure had been effected Miss Baldock was allowed to come home again, having meanwhile, 'come of age.' Being a free agent, Miss Baldock at once sought her lover, and without loss of time the pair arranged for an immediate marriage at St Peter's, Eaton Square and on Thursday, April 28th, Miss Baldock, society belle and heiress, became Mrs Bishop. The family's opposition being as great as ever, Miss Baldock took precautions to prevent any interference with her nuptials. Solicitors representing the bride and bridegroom were present, and police officers were stationed both inside and outside the church, to prevent any attempt at the abduction of Miss Baldock, should such a desperate measure be resorted to by her incensed relatives.

But no one appeared to even challenge the Church's right to make the heiress the chauffeur's wife. So, unattended by bridesmaids and with only an aunt to represent her family, and her solicitor to give her away, Miss Baldock, simply clad in a dark blue travelling costume, was married to the man of her choice. The happy pair are now spending their honeymoon at Bournemouth.

An Heiress Marries a Chauffeur.

A romantic wedding took place late in April at St. Peter's, Eaton Square, London. The parties were Miss Sarah Constance Lilian Baldock (23), the only child of Colonel E.H. Baldock, of 8 Grosvenor -place, S.W., and Mr Cyril Duvall Bishop (22), of Beachcroft-avenue, Southall, formerly chauffeur in the service of the bride's father.

Mr. Duerdin Dutton, solicitor for the bridegroom, was present in the church, as also were several police officers, some opposition to the wedding having been threatened on the part of the bride's relatives, but everything passed off lightly.

The bride was most simply attired in a brown travelling costume. Her black hat was trimmed with green velvet, and she wore a large boa. She was accompanied by a Miss Bibby, her aunt of Charles-street, Mayfair. She was received by her solicitor  Mr. Rider, of 8 New-square, Lincoln-inn-fields, who gave her away. The bridegroom's best man was Mr. Arthur Bishop, his brother. All told, not more than a dozen persons were present during the ceremony. After the marriage, which was by special license, the happy pair drove off in a pair brougham to Waterloo for Bournemouth.

The bride is a tall, athletic young woman and an enthusiastic devotee of outdoor pursuits - an expert motorist, a capital driver of horses and a good shot. At different times she may have been seen managing a four-in-hand in Hyde-park and at Melton Mowbray, or deer-stalking over her father's Scotch moor at Kirriemuir. A niece of Mr. Frank Bibby, of Liverpool, the owner of Kirkland, the winner of the Grand National, she is a granddaughter of the founder of the firm of steamship owners on the Mersey, and it is understood inherits considerable wealth.

Mr Bishop is the fourth son of the late Mr. W. J. Bishop of Messrs.  E. F. Duval and Co., a firm of engravers who have been established in the neighbourhood of the Strand for upwards of a century, and whose business is now carried on for his widowed mother. He was educated at Aske's school at Hatcham, the governors of which are the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers. Leaving there he was bound to a firm of motor-car manufacturers in the City, and afterwards started off in his own account as a maker of motor-car parts.

When Colonel Baldock advertised for a chauffeur to teach his daughter at his place in Melton Mowbray, Bishop obtained the post, and at the same time started a business of his own. He and Miss Baldock were thrown much together, and on one occasion there was an accident, the motor-car colliding with a gate and being badly damaged. The chauffeur managed to save his pupil from injury. A strong affinity grew up between them, which eventually came to the notice of the young lady's father. 

He is said to have offered Bishop £10,000 to go away. The offer was declined but the chauffeur threw up his post and returned to London. Her family did all they could to induce Miss Baldock to think no more of her lover, but to no purpose, and at last her health broke down and her parents sent her on a long tour to the east with her aunt. She returned with her mind made up to marry Mr. Bishop. On her way home, Bishop tried to secure a meeting with the young lady at Paris, but Colonel Baldock intervened, and the attempt failed.

It is understood that she will will have in her own right, under two settlements, the sum of £300,000 on the death of her parents. She has at the present time an allowance of £1,000. Through her solicitor she has made an arrangement whereby her husband's future prosperity will be well secured in the event of her death.