David Manners 11th Duke Of Rutland

Meet the Man Behind the Title: David Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland

So, there I was, wandering the halls of Belvoir Castle, when I stumbled upon a rather peculiar painting. It was of a man with a mischievous grin, holding a pair of binoculars. The caption read: "David, 11th Duke of Rutland, birdwatcher extraordinaire." I mean, who would've thought, right? A duke, a birdwatcher. I had to know more.

From Hollywood to Belvoir Castle

David Manners, born in 1955, is the son of the 10th Duke of Rutland and his wife, Deborah. Now, here's where it gets interesting. Young David didn't always know he was destined for a life of tweed jackets and pheasant shooting. No, he had a bit of a Hollywood phase. He even changed his name to David Niven Jr., after the famous actor, and tried his hand at acting. But alas, the silver screen wasn't quite ready for another Niven.

Fast forward a few years, and David finds himself back in the UK, embracing his aristocratic roots. He took on the title of Duke of Rutland in 1979, following his father's death. And that's when the birdwatching began. I mean, what else does a duke do in his spare time, am I right?

Birds, Boats, and a Bit of Controversy

David's love for birds is no secret. He's even written a book about it, titled "A Bird in the Hand." He's been known to spend hours in his hide, waiting for that perfect shot (of a bird, you pervs). But it's not just birds that get his heart racing. He's also a bit of a boat enthusiast. He's restored several historic vessels, including the "Gondola," a Venetian-style boat that now resides in the castle's moat.

Now, I can't write about David without mentioning the little... shall we say, "incident" with the castle's art collection. In 2002, he sold 17 paintings, including works by Canaletto and Guardi, to raise funds for the castle's upkeep. Some called it a betrayal of his heritage, others saw it as a pragmatic move to save the crumbling estate. David, ever the diplomat, simply said, "It's like pruning a tree. You have to cut back to make it grow again."

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Modern Duke, Ancient Traditions

Despite his love for the past, David is no stuffy aristocrat. He's embraced the modern world with open arms. He's on Twitter (yes, really), he's a passionate environmentalist, and he's even opened the castle's doors to events like music festivals and weddings. He's all about preserving the past while looking towards the future.

So, there you have it. David Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland. Birdwatcher, boat enthusiast, and all-around interesting guy. Next time you're wandering the halls of a stately home, spare a thought for the man behind the title. You never know, he might just be hiding in the bushes, waiting for that perfect shot of a rare warbler.