MORE than 1,000 people attended a service to remember Sir Marcus Worsley, the former Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire and brother of the Duchess of Kent.

Family, friends and acquaintances crowded into York Minster yesterday to pay their respects to one of North Yorkshire’s leading personalities, who died in December at the age of 87.

Among those to attend the service in memory of Sir Marcus, fifth Baronet of Hovingham, was the duchess, the former Katharine Worsley, and Sir Marcus’ sons, Sir William and Peter Worsley, who both gave readings, and his daughter, Sarah Elwes.

Lord Hope, the former Archbishop of York, spoke of Sir Marcus’ dedication to the church, politics and the Conservative Party.

He spoke of Sir Marcus’ devotion to his late wife, Bridget, and similarly paid tribute to his late son, Giles.

Lord Hope said: “‘Archetypal paternalist’, The Telegraph may have called him, but for those who came to know him and met him, he was a friend, one of us, whoever us might have been.

“He met people where they were and always made people feel good about themselves, all the better for having been with him.”

Readings were also given by the Dean of York, the Very Rev Vivienne Faull, the Rev Rachel Benson and the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu.

Sir Marcus was formerly MP for Keighley and later Chelsea. He was a former High Sheriff of North Yorkshire, Honorary Colonel of the 2nd Bn Yorkshire Volunteers, a member of the General Synod of the Church of England, and a past chairman of the Royal Forestry Society.

His other interests included the Ryedale Festival, the York Early Music Festival, the North York Moors Festival and the National Trust, of which he became deputy chairman. He is survived by three children and 12 grandchildren.