Irene Astor, Baroness Astor of Hever
English philanthropist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Irene Violet Freesia Janet Augusta Astor, Baroness Astor of Hever (née Haig; 7 October 1919 – 12 August 2001) was an English philanthropist and member of the Astor family.[2] Her philanthropic contributions included being chairman of the Sunshine Fund for Blind Children from 1947 to 1989, during which she raised over £14 million, She served as vice president of the Royal National Institute for the Blind from 1977 to her death in 2001.
- John Astor, 3rd Baron Astor of Hever
- Bridget Smith
- Elizabeth Louise Ward
- Sarah Lopes
- Philip Astor
The Lady Astor of Hever | |
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| Born | Irene Violet Freesia Janet Augusta Haig 7 October 1919 |
| Died | 12 August 2001 (aged 81) |
| Spouse | |
| Children |
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| Parent(s) | Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig Dorothy Maud Vivian |
| Relatives | Hussey Vivian, 3rd Baron Vivian (grandfather) George Haig, 2nd Earl Haig (brother) |
| Family | Astor family |
Early life
Astor was born on 7 October 1919 at 27 Chesham Place in Belgravia, the youngest of four children of military officer and later Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig (1861–1928),[3] and Dorothy Maud Vivian (1879–1939), a daughter of Hussey Vivian, 3rd Baron Vivian.[4] Her father was created Earl Haig when she was 12 days old entitling her to the prefix Lady. Her elder siblings were Lady Alexandra Henrietta Louisa Haig (wife of Rear-Admiral Clarence Howard-Johnston and Hugh Trevor-Roper),[5] Lady Victoria Doris Rachel Haig (wife of Col. Andrew Montagu Douglas Scott) and George Haig, 2nd Earl Haig.[2]
Career
During World War II she worked for the Red Cross, and was also involved in the Girls' Training Corps, leading a group of girls who turned the ruined site of 145 Piccadilly into an allotment.[2]
Irene was chairman of the Sunshine Fund for Blind Children from 1947 to 1989. She raised over £14 million as chairman.[2] From 1977 until her death, she served as vice president of the Royal National Institute for the Blind.[6]
Personal life
She married Gavin Astor, later the 2nd Baron Astor of Hever, the eldest son of John Jacob Astor, 1st Baron Astor of Hever, and Violet Mary Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound on 4 October 1945.[7] She became Lady Astor of Hever when her husband succeeded to the barony on the death of his father in 1971.[8] They had five children:
- John Astor, 3rd Baron Astor of Hever (b. 1946), who married twice, first to Fiona Diana Lennox Harvey in 1970;[9] the couple had three daughters and divorced in 1990. He married, secondly, Elizabeth Constance Mackintosh, daughter of John Mackintosh, 2nd Viscount Mackintosh of Halifax, in 1990; the couple have two children.
- Bridget Mary Astor (1948–2017), who married twice, first to Count Arthur Tarnowski in 1980; the couple had two sons before divorcing in 1986. Her second marriage was in 1989 to Geofrey Richard Smith; the couple had one daughter.
- Elizabeth "Louise" Astor (b. 1951), who married twice, first to David John Shelton Herring in 1979; they divorced in 1981 and she married, secondly, David Joseph Ward in 1985; the couple have two children.
- Sarah Violet Astor (b. 1953), who married George Edward Lopes, son of Massey Lopes, 2nd Baron Roborough, in 1975 and has three children; their son, Harry Marcus George Lopes, is married to Laura Rose Parker Bowles, daughter of Andrew Parker Bowles and Queen Camilla.
- Philip Douglas Paul Astor (b. 1959), who married twice.[8] His second marriage was in July 2012 to Justine H. Picardie.
She died on 12 August 2001.[2]