Ronald Strutt, 4th Baron Belper

Alexander Ronald George Strutt, 4th Baron Belper, was born on 28 April 1912 to Algernon Strutt, 3rd Baron Belper, and his wife Eva Isabel Mary Bruce. He passed away on 23 December 1999.

Strutt was educated at Harrow School, an all-boys public school located in London. Following his secondary education, he attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, where he completed officer training.

Upon completion of his training, he was commissioned into the British Army on 1 September 1932 as a second lieutenant in the Coldstream Guards. He received subsequent promotions to lieutenant on 1 September 1935, captain on 1 September 1940, and major on 1 July 1946. During his military career, Strutt served actively in the Second World War and was wounded in 1944.

In addition to his military service, Strutt participated in equestrian pursuits. In 1934, he rode a horse named Crown Prince, owned by his stepfather Lord Rosebery, to victory in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup at Cheltenham. He served as a racing manager for Stavros Niarchos for a period. As a horse owner, his notable achievement was owning Persian Lancer, which won the Cesarewitch Handicap in 1966, with jockey Doug Smith aboard. Strutt also held the position of Master of the Quorn Hunt from 1948 to 1954.

Strutt's family life includes his marriage to Zara Sophie Kathleen Mary Mainwaring on 15 November 1940. She was the daughter of Sir Harry Mainwaring, 5th Baronet, and Generis Williams-Bulkeley. The couple had one child, Richard Henry Strutt, who was born on 24 October 1941 and later became the 5th Baron Belper. Strutt and Mainwaring divorced in 1949. Zara Mainwaring later married Peter Cazalet, a horse trainer for Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

In 1957, Strutt sustained the loss of sight in one eye after being hit by a stray shot from Bernard Van Cutsem, a racehorse trainer and notable figure in racing circles.

In March 2000, it was reported that Strutt was identified as the "Lord Y" involved in Janie Jones' trial pertaining to an alleged call-girl ring. Strutt was a regular client of Jones, and he claimed that he was being blackmailed after his name appeared in her client book. Jones was ultimately acquitted of the charges of sexual blackmail.

Throughout his life, Alexander Strutt held multiple roles across military, equestrian, and social spheres, and he was a hereditary peer in Britain.