Christian Mary McEwen

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Christian Mary McEwen, also known as Christian Lady Hesketh, The Dowager Lady Hesketh, and Kisty, OBE, DL [1] (17 July 1929, Marchmont House, Greenlaw, Berwickshire, Scotland-7 April 2006, London)[1][2] was the only daughter of Captain Sir John Helias Finnie McEwen MP.

Personal life

She was brought up a Roman Catholic and educated at St Mary's Convent School in Ascot, Berkshire.[2]

On 22 November 1949[2] she married Frederick Fermor-Hesketh, 2nd Baron Hesketh (8 April 1916 - 10 June 1955), known as 'Freddy'.[2] They had three children: Thomas Alexander (known as Alexander), 3rd Baron Hesketh (b.28 October 1950); Robert (1 November 1951-2 Feb 1997, car accident[2][3]); John (b.15 March 1953).[4] A fourth son was stillborn soon after her husband's death.[2]

After her husband's early death, which left her a widow at the age of 25 with three young sons, she took charge of the family house and estate of Easton Neston, near Towcester, Northamptonshire. She had two serious motoring accidents, both on the M1 Motorway. In the second of these in 1972, she lost an eye.[2]

Following her death in 2006, a number of her jewels were auctioned off, including a diamond floral tiara [5] and an aquamarine and diamond tiara.[6]

Public service

She was county organiser for the WRVS from 1952–83 and a member of the Arts Council from 1960-63.[1] She wrote several works of history and obtained a PhD from King's College London with a thesis published in 1999 called "The Political Opposition to the Government of Charles I in Scotland".[1] She was also a part-time journalist including rugby correspondent of The Spectator for a while.[1]

In 1981 Lady Hesketh was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the county of Northamptonshire (as her husband had also been) and also served as High Sheriff in 1981.[1]

She was awarded the OBE in 1984.[1]

She was a chairman of Daventry Conservative Association and also became a County Councillor for Northamptonshire from 1989-93[1] and Daventry District Councillor with special interest in education. She was instrumental in having Reginald Prentice nominated to stand as Conservative MP for Daventry in 1979 when he defected from the Labour Party.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 The Dowager Lady Hesketh Historian with indomitable spirit The Independent, 12 April 2006, accessed 18 March 2012
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 The Dowager Lady Hesketh Daily Telegraph, 12 April 2006, accessed 18 March 2012
  3. ↑ Traffic accident in California
  4. ↑ The Peerage website
  5. ↑ "Noble jewels". Sothebys. 
  6. ↑ "Aquamarine tiaras". Order of Splendor. 
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