Polo-loving earl leaves £11m fortune to his family

AN ARISTOCRAT known for his love of polo and his efforts to support the game in Scotland left an £11million fortune to his family.

John Douglas, 88, the 21st Earl of Morton, died last year at his Dalmahoy estate near Edinburgh.

He helped raise the profile of polo in Scotland and hosted matches for Edinburgh Polo Club at his stately home.

The Earl also served as a cross-bench peer in the House of Lords where he spoke out on issues affecting Scotland, particularly on the state of prisons.

He bred cattle and owned land in England as well as north of the Border.

The Earl, pictured, was a former chairman of the Dalmahoy Country Club, an exclusive hotel and golfing centre, and the Dalmahoy Estate has been owned by the Douglas family since around 1760.

Papers show he left an £11million fortune and instructed that it be handed over to his family.

The bulk of his fortune was made up from land and property, including his estate, and a stocks and shares portfolio.

His wife Sheila passed away last year and the couple are survived by their daughter Mary and sons John and Charles. John inherited his father’s title and is now the 22nd Earl of Morton.

Thw 21st Earl had a life-long passion for polo and in 1970 he was instrumental in seeing the game return to Scotland. He was active with the Edinburgh Polo Club for many years.

He also served his West Lothian community as Lord Lieutenant between 1985 and 2001.

The late Tam Dalyell, MP for West Lothian and Linlithgow from 1962 to 2005, knew him well.

After the Earl’s death Mr Dalyell paid tribute to him, saying: ‘I’m in a position to know he did a lot for West Lothian.’