MAJOR RONALD FERGUSONBest known for being the father of Sarah, Duchess of York, Major Ronald Ferguson also had a deep love of polo.He frequently came into contact with the royal family through his polo connections, which eventually led to his daughter’s marriage to Prince Andrew in 1986.He spent 21 years as Prince Charles’ polo manager, standing down in 1988.He died on 16 March, 2003, aged 71. He had spent seven years battling cancer while raising awareness of the disease.Born Ronald Ivor Ferguson on 10 October, 1931, he was brought up in Hampshire and attended Eton and Sandhurst, before entering the Household Cavalry and serving in Egypt, Aden and Cyprus .In 1955 he became a member of the Guards’ Polo Club in Windsor, which brought him into close contact with the royals and eventually led him to take the post of Prince Charles’s polo manager.His strong royal connections, which included entertaining the Queen and Prince Philip, eventually led to the wedding of his daughter Sarah and Prince Andrew at Westminster Abbey in 1986.He had three children with his second wife Susan. His first wife of 18 years had also been called Susan and had two daughters with him, Sarah and Jane.Major Ferguson penned his autobiography The Galloping Major in 1994 and opened a cricket school on the grounds of the Hampshire farm he inherited.Two years after its publication he was struck down by prostate cancer, but used the experience to raise awareness of the disease through voluntary work, becoming patron of the Support Association.After bravely battling cancer for seven years Major Ferguson died of a heart attack, with the Duchess of York at his bedside
Keep me informed of updates
