A MUCH-LOVED Westerham resident of many years, Diana Fox-Strangways, the Dowager Countess of Ilchester, has died aged 89.

The widow of the ninth Earl of Ilchester, she was involved in many groups and organised events for many years,

She was involved with the Royal Air Forces Association, Westerham Amateur Dramatics Society, the Women's Institute, St Mary's Church and Cancer Research UK.

She cooked Meals on Wheels from her kitchen, and judged the best float contest at the annual gala day.

Her friend Janet Weston, of South Bank, Westerham, said: "Most people simply knew Lady Ilchester as Di or Diana and were unaware of her illustrious title. She was very down-to-earth and kind.

"If ever someone was short of a helper or organiser they knew Di would say yes."

Diana Mary Elizabeth Simpson was born in Oxfordshire on June 4, 1921, and as a child lived in a pub in Cassington. She joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force as a trainee hairdresser in 1939 and was posted to RAF Brize Norton.

There she met Vivian de Touffreville Fox-Strangways, and they were married in November 1941. In 1970, he became Earl of Ilchester and they lived at various locations including the RAF station in Biggin Hill before moving to Westerham in 1976.

Mrs Weston added: "Lady Ilchester was extremely generous to members of the community and distributed Granny Smith apples, chocolates, sausage rolls and dog biscuits as appropriate."

Lady Ilchester's hobbies included wine-making, pottery and growing exotic plants in her greenhouse.

Mrs Weston added: "She had tools and gadgets for every purpose – mostly unopened in their packages as she opened so many fetes and always felt obliged to buy something. She was devoted to her black pet poodle, Gaby, and taught her to fetch the matches and sit by the gas fire if she felt cold."

Lady Ilchester died peacefully at Wolf House Care Home in Limpsfield on March 1. She had lived there happily for some time, since her husband died in 2006.

Everyone is welcome to a memorial service at 2pm on Tuesday, March 22, at St Mary's Church, Westerham.