Maurice Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy

Roche was born on 15 May 1885 in Chelsea, London, the elder of twin sons of the Hon. James Roche (later 3rd Baron Fermoy) and his American wife, Frances Ellen Work.[1] The Roches separated in December 1886, with James Roche agreeing to relinquish custody of his sons to his wife's father, multi-millionaire stockbroker Frank Work, in exchange for Work paying Roche's debts.[2]

He was educated at Harvard University and graduated in 1909.[3] As a condition of their inheritance, Work stipulated that Maurice and his twin brother Francis "shall assume and retain the name 'Work' in place of the name 'Roche'", and must not travel to Europe or marry a European; Maurice ignored the edicts.[4] Roche returned to England on succeeding to his father's Irish peerage in 1920.[5] He was a naturalized American citizen, but resumed British nationality following his succession to the title.[3]

He rented Park House at Sandringham, Norfolk, from the royal family. At the 1924 general election, he contested and won the local parliamentary constituency, King's Lynn, holding the seat until he stood down at the 1935 general election.[5] He was also elected the town's mayor in 1931.[6]

On 17 September 1931, Lord Fermoy married Ruth Sylvia Gill, the youngest daughter of Col. William Gill, at St. Devenick's, Bieldside, Aberdeenshire,[1] and they had three children:

• The Hon. Mary Cynthia Roche (b. 1934), married (1) the Hon. Anthony Berry (divorced 1966), (2) Denis Geoghegan (divorced 1980), (3) Michael Gunningham (divorced 1989)
• The Hon. Frances Ruth Roche (1936–2004), married (1) John Spencer, Viscount Althorp (divorced 1969), (2) Peter Shand Kydd (divorced 1990)
• The Hon. Edmund James Burke Roche (1939–1984), later the 5th Baron Fermoy, married Lavinia Pitman

Lord Fermoy joined the Royal Air Force in 1939 at the start of World War II, but when the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for King's Lynn was killed on active service in 1943, he resigned his commission and stood for re-election. He retired from politics when Parliament was dissolved for the 1945 general election.[5]

Lord Fermoy was a member of the shooting party organized by King George VI on February 5, 1952, on the grounds of Sandringham, which was the King's last full day alive.[7]

Lord Fermoy collapsed in a shop at King's Lynn, Norfolk, in June 1955 and died three weeks later.[5] He was succeeded by his only son.

His life was the subject of the book Lilac Days, by Gavan Naden and Maxine Riddington (HarperCollins (ISBN 0-00-719863-9)), where it was claimed he had a 30-year affair with an American, Edith Travis.

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Lord Fermoy