Villagers mourn 'Hovingham's leading lady' (From Gazette & Herald)

Villagers mourn 'Hovingham's leading lady'

TRIBUTES have been paid to a well-known North Yorkshire woman whose enthusiasm touched many lives.

Lady Bridget Worsley, wife of Sir Marcus Worsley and sister-in-law of the Duchess of Kent, died at Hovingham Hall, near Malton, on Saturday, aged 77.

She devoted her life to her family and to supporting her husband, first as an MP for Keighley and later Chelsea, and then as Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire from 1987 to 1999.

As a local figure she served her community as governor of Hovingham Primary School, district commissioner of the Girl Guides and president of the Malton Ladies Lifeboat Guild.

Villager Ken Harrison, who stood down as parish council chairman last week, described Lady Worsley as "Hovingham's leading lady".

He said: "She represented everything that was good about Hovingham. She did everything with enthusiasm. She held the village together, leading the way. She was a great friend and advisor to us."

Susan Wainwright, head teacher of Hovingham School, said Lady Worlsley served as a school governor for 26 years from 1975 and had played a leading role in the recent school extension. She said: "She was extremely supportive. She was always there offering support for what ever we were doing. I was very fond of her."

Kathleen Tunbridge, warden at All Saints' Church, Hovingham, said: "Lady Worsley was interested in all parts of village life, from the playing ground committee to the senior citizens.

"She was a school governor, a regular member of our church and very supportive of all church activities. She will be sadly missed. It is the end of an era."

Lady Worsley was born Bridget Assheton. After being educated at Downham School, Hertfordshire, she went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), but left in 1944 to join the WRENs.

She worked for a time on the Enigma code-breaking operation at Bletchley Park, and when the war was over she travelled widely in Africa and worked for the British Ambassador in Brussels.

In 1955 she married Sir Marcus Worsley They had four children, William, Sarah, Giles and Peter. In 1973, after the death of Sir William Worsley, the family moved permanently to Hovingham Hall.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, June 1, at 2.30pm at All Saints' Church, Hovingham. A memorial service will also be held in London, on a date to be announced.

Updated: 11:05 Tuesday, May 25, 2004