Obituary: Baroness Airey of Abingdon
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Diana Josceline Barbara Giffard, intelligence officer and political party worker, born 7 July 1919, assumed 1979 the forename of Neave and the surname of Airey, created 1979 Baroness Airey of Abingdon, member North Atlantic Assembly 1983-84, Select Committee on European Communities (Sub-Committee F) 1986-87, married 1942 Airey Neave (died 1979; two sons, one daughter), died Charlbury 27 November 1992.
DIANA AIREY was the epitome of courage and fortitude, writes Dame Guinevere Tilney. These great qualities shone forth at the time of Airey Neave's murder and the following years.
She and I were alone together in Westminster Hospital where Airey had been taken from his bombed car in the House of Commons. It was my task to tell her that no medical skill had been able to save her husband's life. For an instant she sat still, then walking, tearless, about the room she vowed she would see that all in which he believed would not cease.
She never forgot that pledge, keeping his memory green in a number of ways; such as the formulation of the Airey Neave Memorial Trust and joining all the House of Lords committees on subjects dear to his heart about which she often had to learn painfully and carefully.
Even when, five years ago, cruel illness struck her, making speech and understanding not easy, she battled on. Finally, when having to leave her beloved Westminster Gardens flat to be cared for in an Oxfordshire home, she still tried, by telephone, to make a point about political matters she believed would have been of concern to Airey. His last words to me before his ill-fated drive make a perfect epitaph. 'Diana is a wonderful person.'
She set us all an example of dignified valour in the face of great personal disaster which will not be easy to follow.
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments