Tributes paid to Lady Joyce Brassey (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Tributes paid to Lady Joyce Brassey

FAMILY and friends paid tribute to the life of Lady Joyce Brassey during a thanksgiving service at Great Somerford Church last Friday attended by 350 people. (February 10).

Lady Brassey, wife of the late Colonel Sir Hugh Brassey, died at Ilsom House Nursing Home in Tetbury on January 10, aged 88.

A dedicated charity worker, Lady Brassey was a former president and patron of the Wiltshire Red Cross, for which she worked for many years.

She was also heavily involved over the years with the Malmesbury Centre for the Physically Handicapped.

Born on March 17, 1917 at Charlton Kings, near Cheltenham, she was a member of the Kingscote family, one of whose ancestors married the niece of William the Conqueror.

She became one of the first students to attend Westonbirt School after it opened in 1927.

In her childhood she developed a love of horses which continued into her later years with her part-ownership of Professor Plum, a chaser who won 19 National Hunt races.

She married Hugh Brassey in July 1939 and the couple enjoyed 51 years together before his death, aged 74, in 1990.

After 29 years in the Middle East with her husband and his regiment, the Royal Scots Greys, she returned to England in 1942 with her daughter Fiona, and worked as a nurse in Tetbury for the duration of the war.

The couple went on to have four more children, Antony, Jane, Sarah and Kim, and bought a 150-acre dairy farm in Little Somerford in 1949 where they stayed for the rest of their years, becoming integral members of community life.

Colonel Sir Hugh had a long and distinguished career in the military and Royal service.

He spent 21 years with the Yeoman of the Guard, was High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1959 and Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire from 1981 until 1989.

Antony said his mother supported his father throughout his career in service, joining him at inumerable functions.

He added: "She was a great worker and didn't mind getting her hands dirty.

"She was happy standing on corners shaking a collection tin and was very much a hands-on lady.

"She was also a great family person, dedicated to her ten grandchilden and great grandchild.

"She had a tremendous sense of humour and the ability to talk to people and be interested in other people.

"She never reflected on herself or talked about herself, even when she was ill. We were very lucky."