John Vane, 11th Baron Barnard

Born at Raby Castle in County Durham, Lord Barnard was educated at Eton College.[1] On leaving school in 1942 he joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve, training in South Africa, though he would never see combat.[1] In the aftermath of the war he became active in the Northumberland Hussars. From 1952 to 1961, Lord Barnard was a county councillor for County Durham and also, from 1956 to 1970, a Deputy Lieutenant of Durham.[2]

In 1960, Lord Barnard was awarded the Territorial Decoration, and then became a Justice of the Peace for County Durham in 1961. He was Lieutenant-Colonel of the Northumberland Hussars between 1964 and 1966, Lord Lieutenant of Durham between 1970 and 1988, and Honorary Colonel of the 7th (Durham) Battalion, Light Infantry between 1979 and 1989.[2]

Aged 63, Lord Barnard, who had missed university in his youth because of the war, surprised friends by enrolling at Durham University Business School and taking an MSc in Management Studies.[1]

He was initiated into freemasonry in Agricola Lodge No.7741 in 1961. He served as Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham from December 1969 until January 1998, and served as Senior Grand Warden of the United Grand Lodge of England in 1970–1971.

He married Lady Davina Mary Cecil (1931-2018),[3] daughter of David Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter on 8 October 1952 at St Margaret's, Westminster. They were divorced in 1992.[2] They had five children; son Henry, 12th Baron Barnard, and four daughters.

Lady Barnard retired to Barningham, where she died in 2018. [4]

• Burke's Peerage
• Who's Who 2009