Lady Elizabeth Lambton

She was a beloved mother to her four children and for 55 years a devoted wife to Major Charles Lambton before his death in May 2005.

The daughter of Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, the 6th Marquess of Lansdowne, and Elizabeth Hope, she grew up in her childhood home, Bowood House, with three brothers, two of whom died in the Second World War.

Lady Elizabeth spent almost the entirety of her life as a housewife, the role she had dreamed of following since she was young.

Her son Julian Lambton, 60, a chartered surveyor, said: “My mother and father met and she did not take too much notice of him but he did of her and kept looking out for her.

“After two or three months she realised what a marvellous person he was and they fell for each other and lost no time in getting married.

“What my mother saw in dad was very different from what she was used to. She was born into a large and fairly important local family where there was quite a bit of formality.”

Lady Elizabeth, who leaves her four children, Billy Lambton, Annie Wintour, Julian Lambton and Christopher Lambton, had suffered with Alzheimer’s in the latter stages of her life. After living for a large period of time in Mortimer Common, near Reading, she moved to Calstone Wellington, just outside Calne, in the late 1970s.

“She was a very resourceful person and had a tremendous sense of fun, always enjoying a good party,” added Mr Lambton. “Considering the background that she came from, that was very formal, she allowed us to spread our wings without being domineering and bossy.

“We have all been reminiscing about her recently. She was a great giggler. There were many occasions when she would dissolve into uncontrollable giggles and she was unable to stop for ages and ages.”

Her funeral took place on Monday, July 11 at 2pm at Christ Church, Derry Hill.

Donations in Lady Lambton’s memory can be made to the Royal British Legion Dementia Support.