SERVICES were held to mark the 40th anniversary of the shocking deaths in Northern Ireland of Lord Mountbatten, two family members and 18 soldiers by two IRA bombs.

The horrific events of August 27, 1979 have a particular resonance in Haslemere, due the strong family connection with a former Haslemere lord of the manor, James Stewart Hodgson (1827-1899), who lived at Lythe Hill Estate.

His daughter Agatha and her husband Captain George Browne, also lived in the town until they succeeded to the titles of the Marquis and Marchioness of Sligo.

The couple’s youngest daughter Doreen married British peer Michael Knatchbull in 1919 and their son John married Lord Mountbatten’s eldest daughter Patricia in 1946 at a wedding attended by King George VI.

The Haslemere link was flagged up by town resident Tony Bennett, who discovered the connection while researching for his forthcoming book on two prominent former residents – Chiddingfold archaeologist The Rev Thomas Cooper and Sir Richard Garton, who built a children’s ward for Haslemere Hospital.

Mr Bennett said: “The discovery of the Mountbatten connection was astonishing to me. Garton bought Lythe Hill House when Hodgson was forced to sell following the collapse of Barings.

“Following the trail led me through Agatha’s line to Ireland. I don’t usually continue to modern times but the stories were interesting and then I came across the wedding photograph.

“Then the 40th anniversary dawned on me. Looking into those events of 1979, which I remember, I found a very moving article by Timothy Knatchbull, Hodgson’s great great grandson, the 14 year old identical twin who did survive the bomb.

“It was written in 2012 on the very controversial occasion of the Queen shaking the hand of Martin McGuiness, as deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, but quite possibly head of the IRA at the time of the assassination.

“Amazingly he was able praise both parties.

“I then realised the full significance of this shocking event, but also as a family tragedy. Doreen was 83 at the time. She was on the boat and died.”