The Lady Astor of Hever | |
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| Born | Irene Violet Freesia Janet Augusta Haig (1919-10-07)7 October 1919 |
| Died | 12 August 2001(2001-08-12) (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 |
Irene Violet Freesia Janet Augusta Astor, Baroness Astor of Hever (néeHaig; 7 October 1919 – 12 August 2001) was an English philanthropist and member of theAstor 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 theRoyal National Institute for the Blind from 1977 to her death in 2001.
Astor was born on 7 October 1919 at 27Chesham Place inBelgravia, the youngest of four children of military officer and laterField MarshalDouglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig (1861–1928),[3] and Dorothy Maud Vivian (1879–1939), a daughter ofHussey Vivian, 3rd Baron Vivian.[4] Her father was createdEarl 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-AdmiralClarence Howard-Johnston andHugh Trevor-Roper),[5] Lady Victoria Doris Rachel Haig (wife of Col.Andrew Montagu Douglas Scott) andGeorge Haig, 2nd Earl Haig.[2]
DuringWorld War II she worked for theRed Cross, and was also involved in theGirls' Training Corps, leading a group of girls who turned the ruined site of145 Piccadilly into anallotment.[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]
She marriedGavin Astor, later the 2ndBaron Astor of Hever, the eldest son ofJohn Jacob Astor, 1st Baron Astor of Hever, andViolet 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:
She died on 12 August 2001.[2]
Irene Lady Astor of Hever, who has died aged 81, was the widow of the second Baron Astor of Hever - the former proprietor of The Times - and the daughter of Field Marshal Earl Haig, who commanded the British Army during the 1914-18 war; she was also a central figure in theCommonwealth Press Union (CPU) and worked hard for a large number of charities, including the Red Cross and Royal National Institute for the Blind.
