A BRIGHT light has gone out in Derbyshire. The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, who saved Chatsworth from financial ruin by her cleverness and commercial insight, has passed away.
She was known as "Stubby to her Mitford sisters, Jessica a communist, Unity the Hitler worshipper, Diana a fascist who counted Hitler as a friend and Nancy the famous writer.
Debo, as she was known by her friends, was ordinary in comparison and, after marrying the Duke of Devonshire, settled at Chatsworth, it seemed into a calm pastoral existence. Yet everybody she met, fisherman, butcher or coal miner, she found interest in. She loved Elvis Presley in her comparative youth and remained in thrall to his singing for the rest of her life.
She set about restoring Chatsworth's fortunes, threatened as it was by financial ruin. It was her vision that has made it what it is today, the most visited of all stately homes in Britain and stimulating tourism that brings much-needed funds into Derbyshire.
She singled me out once on a visit to Chatsworth and asked what I liked about it.On learning who I was and that she stocked my book The Hike in the Chatsworth shop, she pretended to be upset that it had won the local book award over her biography of her late husband.
And then came the chuckle.
Far from being a typical Mitford, one of the insiders, part of the establishment with a sense of superiority that went beyond mere class, she stepped outside to become a much-liked personality by members of all social classes.
I last saw her plodding her dog around Edensor village and bidding everyone she saw a good day. And so we bid her a fond good night.
Don Shaw
Mickleover Country Park
