A Fitting Memorial: Remembering Betty Boothroyd (1929 – 2023)
January 16th, 2024 was a beautifully blue, frosty day.
Scores of friends, family and colleagues gathered at St Margaret’s Church in the grounds of Westminster Abbey to celebrate the life of trailblazer Betty Boothroyd.
This 12th century MP’s church was packed to rafters with those who had loved and respected this extraordinary First Woman. The mark she made on our times was aptly felt in this historic venue; a world heritage site and a place where so much history has been made.
Beautiful obituaries were read by Patricia Hodge, Patricia Routledge, and Betty’s colleagues in the House of Lords.
I was deeply honoured to be sat with Betty’s friends and family. A card I had sent her (one of the many we had exchanged over the years) had been found by her executor and, intrigued by the project, she had invited me to the memorial to celebrate the life of the woman who had been our wonderful patron.
Listening to the choir of Westminster Abbey singing in this packed-out church, truly was the celebration this resilient, fun and forthright woman who changed history deserved.
Truly a great woman of our time.
The Rt Hon. the Baroness Boothroyd OM. 1929-2023
