Jeffry George Lefroy (46-54) was born on 24 May 1936 at Corkagh House, Clondalkin, County Dublin. He came from a family whose history was closely intertwined with both Ireland and England. The Lefroys were descended from French Huguenots who fled religious persecution in the sixteenth century before eventually settling in Ireland. Through his mother, Veronica Colley, the family also traced connections to the Duke of Wellington. Despite these historic roots, Jeffry's life was characterised far more by service, community involvement and a wide range of interests than by family heritage alone.

His childhood was divided between Ireland and England. Following the family's move to East Yorkshire in the late 1940s, he became a boarder at Pocklington School, where he spent eight years from 1946 to 1954. During that time, he threw himself into many aspects of school life, establishing the broad range of interests and activities that would remain with him throughout his life.

An able and committed pupil, he served as a Prefect during his final two years and as House Captain of Dolman. He was also Librarian, an Editor of The Pocklingtonian, and Honorary Secretary of the Sixth Form Society. Beyond the classroom, he was active in the Drama, Antiquarian and Photography Societies, and was confirmed by the Archbishop of York in Pocklington Parish Church in 1950.

Sport and music played a significant role in his school years. Jeffry played rugby for the School's 1st XV and was awarded both the 1st and 2nd XV Colours. He was also a Sergeant in the Combined Cadet Force and achieved First Class Shot status. His greatest talent, however, was his singing. As a member of the School Choir, he enjoyed considerable success in singing competitions, winning the Broken Voices Solo category on several occasions and sharing victory in the Duet Class competition with Christopher Woodmansey (49-55) in his final year.

After leaving Pocklington, Jeffry completed National Service before studying at Balliol College, Oxford. From there he embarked on a military career with the Royal Irish Fusiliers, serving in a variety of overseas postings including Libya, Cyprus, Germany and southern Africa. In 1964 he married Tessa White, and together they built a family life around the demands and opportunities of military service.

A significant change came in 1976 when Jeffry inherited Carrigglas Manor, the historic family estate near Longford in Ireland. Retiring from the Army, he and Tessa moved to Carrigglas with their young family and took on the challenge of managing the estate during a period of economic difficulty for rural Ireland.

Over the following decades they worked to diversify the estate and establish it as a visitor destination. Welcoming guests from Ireland and abroad, they opened the house and grounds to visitors and became well-known locally for their hospitality. Jeffry was a natural raconteur who brought the estate’s history to life through stories of the wider Lefroy family. Among the family’s notable connections was Lord Chief Justice Thomas Lefroy whose reputed liaison with Jane Austen has long fuelled speculation that he may have been the inspiration for Mr Darcy in ‘Pride and Prejudice’.

Alongside his work at Carrigglas, Jeffry became involved in local agricultural affairs through the Irish Farmers Association and represented the organisation on Longford's agricultural committee. He also took an interest in the preservation of Ireland's historic houses and heritage collections so much so that following a spate of serious burglaries around Ireland he founded the Council For The Preservation of Irish Heritage Objects which involved cooperation between the Irish and British Governments in setting up a cross-border crime force with both the RUC and Gardai working together.

Music remained an important thread throughout his life. Possessing a fine baritone voice, he continued to sing and perform long after his school days. Friends and family remember the pleasure he took in music and the enjoyment it brought to those around him. His interests also extended to amateur dramatics and community fundraising projects.

After the sale of Carrigglas in the early 2000s, Jeffry and Tessa moved to Crowenstown, near Delvin in County Westmeath, where they became part of the local community. In later life he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, facing the challenges of the condition with quiet resilience and supported by his family, friends and carers until his passing on 27 December 2025 aged 89.

Jeffry is survived by his wife, Tessa; sons, Langlois and Edward; grandson, Kit; sister, Laetitia; and daughters-in-law, Valérie and Niki.

Please click here to read a more detailed tribute from the West Meath Examiner.