Tributes paid to 'leading lady of Hovingham' (From Gazette & Herald)

Tributes paid to 'leading lady of Hovingham'

THE Hon Lady Worsley, wife of Sir Marcus Worsley, of Hovingham Hall, the former Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, has died at the age of 77.

Lady Worsley, who died peacefully in her sleep at her home, Park House, in Hovingham on Saturday surrounded by her family, was the only daughter and eldest child of Ralph Assheton, of Downham Hall, Lancashire, later the first Baron Clitheroe, and his wife Sylvia.

After being educated at Downham School, the then Bridget Assheton went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1943, but left the following year when she volunteered to join the Women's Royal Naval Service.

She served for a time on the Second World War Enigma code-breaking operation at Bletchley Park and later at Largs in Scotland.

In 1948-9, she hitchhiked with a friend, Pauline Mander, from South Africa to Cairo, interviewing Haile Selasse, the Emperor of Ethiopia, on her way.

After working for a time for the advertising agency J Walter Thompson, she served as social secretary to the British ambassador in Brussels, from 1951-53.

In 1955, she married Marcus Worsley, the eldest son of Sir William Worsley, of Hovingham, and then prospective parliamentary candidate for Keighley, in West Yorkshire.

Their first child, William, was born a year later and the couple later had three other children, Sarah, Giles and Peter.

In 1959, Mr Worsley became MP for Keighley and then, from 1966 to 1974, was MP for Chelsea. After the death of Sir William Worsley, in 1973, the family moved permanently to Hovingham Hall.

A statement from the family said Lady Worlsey devoted her life to her family, supporting her husband as an MP and later as Lord Lieutenant.

Her love of gardening, seen in the gardens of Hovingham Hall, led to her serving as president of the North of England Horticultural Society from 1992 to 1995. She was founder-president of the Chelsea Luncheon Club and, for many years, was a governor of Hovingham Church of England Primary School, district commissioner of the Girl Guides for seven years, and president of the Malton Ladies Lifeboat Guild. More recently, she was regional chairman of the charity Live Music Now.

Lady Worsley, whose sister-in-law is the Duchess of Kent, was awarded the RNLI's silver badge for her long service to the charity.

The family said in their statement: "Her integrity, kindness and concern for others will be much missed."

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 Worsley 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, as a head teacher 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."

Her funeral service will be at All Saints Church, Hovingham, on Tuesday, June 1, at 2.30pm.

Updated: 11:47 Wednesday, May 26, 2004