LORD VES TEY


Sam Vestey, in the uniform of Master of the Horse, at the Annual Inspection of the Light Cavalry at Smith's Lawn OBITUARY


19 MARCH 1941 – 4 FEBRUARY 2021


SAMUEL GEORGE ARMSTRONG VESTEY


LORD VESTEY WAS A Gloucestershire man through and through – it was the location of his home, his polo club and his preferred racecourse. However, Sam Vestey deserves this tribute in the Guards Polo Club Yearbook as he played a huge part in the Club’s tournament history in the 1970s and 80s. Sam Vestey was the patron of the Stowell Park polo


‘ Despite his title and great wealth, Sam Vestey will be remembered as a good- natured man with a clear lack of pomposity’


team – named after his home in Gloucestershire – and one of the most significant and successful teams in the history of British polo. Alongside his younger brother, Mark, they dominated the high-goal during this period. Stowell Park put its name to the Gold Cup at Cowdray Park five times, winning in 1973, ’74, ’76, ’78 and ‘80. In addition, they won the


GCVO, DL


Queen’s Cup here at Guards Polo Club four times (1971, ‘73, ‘78, ‘80). In fact, 1973 was a stand-out year for Stowell Park, as the Vestey brothers, alongside Eduardo Moore and Hector Barrantes, captured a rare triple – the Gold, Queen’s and Warwickshire Cups. In the 50th anniversary programme of the Queen’s Cup


tournament, Mark Vestey recalled playing for Stowell Park: “Eduardo Moore played unconventional polo for the time – he invented tapping and turning – while Hector was a much more traditional player who would back Eddie up. Eddie would play three ponies – two chukkas each – while Sam and I would play our best four. Throughout the season we tried to have 10 ponies each – eight older ones and two new ones every year.” Stowell Park’s success went against them though as


Mark revealed in 2005: “Our handicaps went up to four, so we had too many goals and decided to take it in turns


GUARDS POLO CLUB OFFICIAL YEARBOOK 2021 71


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