The Arms and Crest of James Allister Odd, 19th Lord of Hasley
The Current Steward of the Lordship of Hasley The Hon. James Allister Odd
The Lord Hasley, Count of Valais, KStG, O.N.M., LRStS
Head of the House of Valais-Reade
His Lordship, The Lord Hasley, was granted confirmation of the baronial dignity as 19th Lord of Hasley by legal instrument and deed dated the 31st of January, 2023. This ennoblement was duly recorded in the Official Public Record of His Majesty’s Stationery Office (HMSO), under NFRA Registration No. H1223210-21,, and affirmed in the BENR Peerage Record #720713 .
The honour was conferred in formal recognition of His Lordship’s distinguished services to the public realm, which have yielded notable benefit to society at large. As Head of the House of Valais-Reade, His Lordship upholds the ancestral legacy of ecclesiastical stewardship, diplomatic service, and noble continuity, in accordance with the succession charter of 1922 and 1981.
His titles include:
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The Lord Hasley
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Count of Valais
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Baron of Carrighmain
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Baron of Reed
His honours comprise:
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Knight of the Valiant Order of Saint George (KStG)
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Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite (France)
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Lord Rector of the Order of Saint Sigismund (LRStS)
Dr. Odd, an academic and investigative professional, resides in the Northwest of the United States with his wife, Clarity Rose Odd, the Lady of Hasley, and his two children. Lady Hasley is a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur. Dr. Odd is a distinguished combat veteran, decorated with multiple commendations for acts of valor and meritorious service to the country. Following his honourable discharge, and as a service-disabled veteran himself, Dr. Odd has tirelessly championed the cause of disabled veterans on an international scale. His advocacy extends beyond national allegiances, embracing those who have served irrespective of their affiliation in the theatre of conflict.
The genealogical heritage of Dr. Odd is indelibly intertwined with the rich historical tapestry of Buckinghamshire County. His ancestral lineage, distinguished in name and deed, can be traced back to Surrey. It was there that Montagu and Gilbert Odd not only transformed the sport of cricket but also secured a patent for their revolutionary cricket bat design in 1880. This pivotal innovation was accomplished in concert with Duke and Sons, a venerable establishment with origins dating back to 1760.
Dr. Odd is the owner and director of Montagu Odd & Sons, a hand-crafted Cricket Bat and Ball manufacturer established by Amos Odd in 1854, which has stayed with the family since its inception. Dr. Odd is also a published author on the subject of Cricket.
On the maternal front, Dr. Odd’s lineage boasts an equally remarkable pedigree. It traces back to eminent historical figures such as Bishop William Rede, the Lord of Amberley Castle, who was instrumental in the construction of the magnificent Chichester Cathedral. Furthermore, Dr. Odd is directly descended from Sir Robert Rede, the esteemed Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and a philanthropic benefactor of Cambridge University.
Adding to the lineage’s illustriousness, Dr. Odd is a direct relative of Sir Robert Heneage, who had the distinct honour of being Queen Elizabeth I’s favoured courtier. Historically, the family’s primogeniture line of succession was graced with a plethora of noble titles, including but not limited to the Earl of Lydford, Viscount of Mensbach, Baron of Lincolnshire, and Baron of Somerset. Unfortunately, these titles were rescinded by the Crown in the mid-18th century when the Odd/Read lineage lent their support to the American colonies in their pursuit of independence.
At the present juncture, the esteemed family House of Valais-Reade, a cadet branch of the House of Lorraine (Haus Lothringen) and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Haus Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha), holds with great honor a distinguished array of titles of Nobility from both British and European traditions. These include the Count of Valais, the Baron of Carrighmain, the Lordship of the Barony of Burford, Lordship of the Barony of Radcliff, and the Lordship of the Barony of Hasley/Thornton. Each title is borne with a deep sense of familial duty and an enduring commitment to the historic traditions and responsibilities these esteemed positions entail.
Dr. James Allister Odd is the acknowledged heir to two extant baronies within the Peerage of England and stands in line to inherit an established English baronetcy. Through lineal primogeniture, he presently bears the hereditary titles of 19th Count of Valais and 11th Baron of Carrighmain, titles conferred within the Holy Roman Empire and continental tradition of the House of Valais-Reade.
His Lordship has been honoured with knighthoods in distinguished orders of merit, including:
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Knight of the Valiant Order of Saint George (KStG), under the royal matronage of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Anne.
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Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite (O.N.M.), a decoration of the French Republic for distinguished service.
- Lord Rector of the Order of Sant Sigismund (LRStS), a spiritual and chivalric order whose roots go back to the 6th – century abbey of Saint Maurice of Agaunum, founded by King Saint Sigismund of Burgundy in the year 515.
With a lineage traceable to the Anglo-Saxon House of Wessex and ecclesiastical sovereigns of medieval Valais, Dr. Odd is a fitting and reverent custodian of the hereditary dignity of Lord of the Barony of Hasley—a title affirmed by legal deed in 2023 and entered into the formal peerage registers.
In respect of the traditions and laws of the United States, His Lordship refrains from the daily use of noble titles, reserving such distinctions for ceremonial, charitable, and scholarly undertakings.
As Lord and Lady Hasley, Dr. Odd and his consort faithfully fulfil their hereditary responsibilities, which include:
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Maintaining a seat within the British Hasley Manor Trust.
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Overseeing the selection of Lord’s Scholars Grant recipients.
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Upholding the social honour and historic dignity of the Barony of Hasley.
Written by Otto Day at the behest of the Trust (updated 18/2/2025)
