A high society wedding could be on the cards after the great-great-great granddaughter of John Cadbury who founded the chocolate business revealed she’s found love with an SAS hero.
Tobi-Jayne Cadbury, 34, who lives in near Malvern in Worcestershire, is the great-great-great granddaughter of John Cadbury who founded the confectionery giant, maker of some of the country’s most famous sweets, in Birmingham almost 200 years ago.
She has been dating a retired special forces solider who uses the alias Chris Craighead, 46, for two years and friends say the couple are ‘head over heels in love’ and looking to get married.
Describing herself online as aLawyer, Space Industry Specialist & Consultant, Tobi-Jayne also enjoys photography as a hobby.
Her partner became a legend after he took on twisted fundamentalists who had stormed a luxury hotel complex in Kenya in 2019.
Tobi-Jayne Cadbury, 34, (pictured) has explained that they have been together for 2 years. The heiress said that he had not yet proposed to her but hinted it could be soon
The great-great-great granddaughter of John Cadbury has revealed she's found love with an SAS hero, who goes by the alias Chris Craighead, 46 (right)
The Special Forces veteran, who uses the pseudonym Chris Craighead on Instagram (right) leading Kenyan security forces towards the luxury DusitD2 hotel in Nairobi in 2019 before storming the complex and defeating al-Shabaab terrorists
The al-Shabaab terror group claimed that the attack was a response to US President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Pictured: Craighead storming the hotel
The Special Forces veteran, who joined the British Army aged 16 in 1992, is best known for single-handedly defeating jihadis during a Nairobi hotel siege which left at least 21 people dead in January 2019.
He was stationed in Kenya to help train the nation’s soldiers when heavily armed jihadis from the al-Shabaab terror group seized the Dusit D2 luxury hotel complex, setting fire to vehicles, detonating explosions and embarking on a mass shooting.
Craighead was out shopping in the city when he heard about the attack and kitted up with equipment in the back of his car before heading to the scene to 'organise the entire operation' directing the police and army, before going in alone to neutralise the enemy and rescue the hostages.
Wearing combat gear over casual jeans and a purple shirt, with his face concealed by a balaclava, he was captured on camera entering the complex in Nairobi and then emerging with terrified survivors.
Chris (pictured) became a legend after he took on twisted fundamentalists who had stormed a luxury hotel complex in Kenya in 2019
He used a modified colt Canada rifle and carried a Glock 9mm side weapon as well as a knife for hand-to-hand combat.
The 19-hour siege left 21 dead, including British charity worker Luke Potter. More than 700 people were evacuated from the complex.
At the time he was dating the White House official photographer Shealah Craighead and he was even pictured meeting President Donald Trump but they have since split and he has now dating Lady Tobi-Jayne Cadbury.
Tobi-Jayne told MailOnline: ‘We are together and we have been for a while. He hasn’t asked me to marry him yet, that’s probably a question you should ask someone else!
‘We met in London a few years ago and I support him anyway I can. We are very happy together and I follow him on Instagram but we are a very private couple. We are happy dating for the time being.’
A pal told: ‘They are a really sweet couple. It’s like a Kingsman movie; a spy marrying an aristocrat. It’s the happiest I have seen Craig in a long time and they are really made for each other.
‘Everyone is delighted for them – and Chris is just so happy, he’s been a bit down ever since the terror attack, but now he seems to have really found himself since getting together with Tobi.’
Chris was off duty in Kenya and teaching local soldiers when al-Shabaab terrorists stormed the DusitD2 hotel complex in the capital Nairobi and pictures at the time showed him masked and carrying an assault rifle as he spoke to security teams before the building was stormed.
Last year he revealed his identity after it emerged Walter Mitty type impersonators were passing themselves off as him in pubs and bars around the SAS HQ at Hereford.
Chris posted on Instagram: ‘I’m doing this earlier than I planned, but the actions of others have forced my hand into prematurely revealing my face.
Last year Chris revealed his identity after it emerged Walter Mitty type impersonators were passing themselves off as him in pubs and bars around the SAS HQ at Hereford
Chris previously dated White House official photographer Shealah Craighead before dating Lady Tobi-Jayne Cadbury, a lawyer (pictured)
‘This photo and others like it are becoming increasingly available, so I thought I should be the one to share the first with you.’
Alongside the picture of him he wrote: ‘Thank you to all those close to me who support, guide, assist, and keep me balanced during this time in my life.’
Newcastle born Chris was awarded 14 medals during his army career which started in 1992 when he joined up at just 16 and he eventually entered service in the SAS.
For his 19 hour bravery in Kenya he was given the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross – Britain’s second highest award for bravery – and he also won an MBE and been mentioned in dispatches countless times.
He had to have his suit specially altered at a Saville Row tailors so he could fit all hid medals on – he said of the Huntsman outfitters, who are featured in Kingsman: ‘They were able to solve the problem of securing my medals by designing a support arm which can be stowed away when medals are not worn.’
In the Kenyan attack he helped lead hundreds of tourists to safety after racing to the scene in his civilian clothes, where he pulled on a combat jacket and went into action with a rifle, pistol and knife.
Chris was there to teach local soldiers special forces tactics and although 21 people were killed he and others were credited with saving hundreds of lives.
His most recent Instagram post – where he describes himself as a ‘retired combat veteran’ and a ‘skilled and relentless good guy’ shows him meeting the Queen and praising her for her Platinum Jubilee.
Tobi, who lives in near Malvern in Worcestershire, is part of the billionaire Cadbury chocolate empire, one of Britain’s oldest and well known confectionary brands
Chris now works promoting veterans charities and is involved with the US based Black Rifle Coffee company
He now works promoting veterans charities and is involved with the US based Black Rifle Coffee company. A source there said: ‘Chris and Tobi really are great guys and they suit each other well.
‘He’s had a tough time the last few years and deserves a bit of good luck, especially after risking his own life to have others in the terrorist attack. He deserves more than just a medal.’
The source added:’ They met in London a couple of years ago, he had not long broken up with Shealah but all of us that know him say this is the happiest we have seen him in years.
‘She’s really good for him but he’s pretty guarded and doesn’t like to talk about his private life.’
The couple met in London two years ago and have admitted that they are very private about their relationship
Tobi, who lives in near Malvern in Worcestershire, is part of the Cadbury family who founded the chocolate empire, one of Britain’s oldest and well known confectionery brands.
The head office of the 200-year-old company is in Uxbridge, west London and their legendary production plant at Bourneville near Birmingham churns out millions of the country’s favourite sweet treats every year including Dairy Milk, Flake and Crème Eggs.
They have had a royal warrant since 1955 and last year were at the centre of controversy after it emerged they had reduced the size of Dairy Milk bars but kept the price the same.
In 2011 they were bought in a hostile takeover by Mondelez International for an eye watering £11.5 billion – almost 200 years after businessman John Cadbury set up a store in Birmingham selling tea, coffee and drinking chocolate.
Tobi added:’ The business was sadly subject to a hostile takeover bid for £12 billion pounds a few years ago and now there is no family involvement anymore, sadly there is no empire. None of the family will inherit the business.’
Last year Mondelez made more than £6.2 billion with sales from Cadbury’s products accounting for more than £1 billion.
