Obituary: Jane, Dowager Duchess of Buccleuch, former model, carer and confidant

Published on Wednesday 27 April 2011 14:31

Former model with roots in Colonsay who dedicated her life to her aristocrat husband

Jane, the Dowager Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry, former model, carer and confidant.

Born: 19 December, 1929, in Shanghai.

Died: 18 April, 2011, in London, aged 81.

JANE, the Dowager Duchess of Buccleuch, was one of the leading models of the postwar years and maintained the grace and poise of her profession all her life.

She principally modelled for Norman Hartnell - the Queen's favourite fashion house - and, after marrying the 11th Duke of Buccleuch, she joined one of Scotland's oldest families and largest landowners. She lived in, and did much to improve and enhance, the beauty of three of the finest stately homes in Britain: Bowhill near Selkirk, Drumlanrig, Dumfriesshire, and Boughton, near Kettering, Northamptonshire.

The Duchess also supported her husband in his many undertakings throughout Scotland and in his endeavours to modernise the Buccleuch estates. But she became vital to his career as a politician after a riding accident near Hawick in 1971. His horse threw him as it failed to jump a dyke and then fell on him. The Earl was left paralysed from the chest down with a fractured spine and spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair. The Duchess became his carer, confidant and trusted support.

Jane McNeill was the daughter of John McNeill QC, of Colonsay, and remained fervently proud of her West Highland heritage- indeed one of the last journeys prior to her death was a pilgrimage to the Hebridean island. Her father was Crown Advocate in Shanghai and her early years were spent in the Far East.

She returned to Scotland in 1937 to live at Druimavuic in Argyll and attend a school in Aberdeenshire. Her elegance, winning smile and ready charm ensured she was much in demand as a model especially with Hartnell.

She married Walter Francis John Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Earl of Dalkeith and heir to the title of the 9th Duke of Buccleuch in 1953 at St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh. It was the society wedding of the year and the entire Royal Family attended. There had been talk in the press that the Earl might marry Princess Margaret.

The Buccleuch family were one of the most renowned in Scotland. The Lordship of Scott of Buccleuch had been created in 1606, and the earldom in 1619 for the second Lord. The estates, houses and considerable art collection - including works by da Vinci (famously stolen and returned), Rembrandt, Gainsborough and van Dyck - were treasured and cared for by the Duchess. She remained a keen champion of many charities in Scotland and although she had a young family and Eildon Hall, near Melrose, to run, she became an active county organiser for the Women's Voluntary Service and, from 1954, the chairwoman in Edinburgh of the Save The Children Fund. In 1960, the Earl stood in a Westminster by-election for Edinburgh North.The Duchess proved a most able and agile canvasser and helped her husband at the hustings and, after his election, in constituency matters.

As an MP's wife, the Duchess proved invariably courteous and interested in all the constituents' concerns. However, after his accident, he relied on her even more not only in political matters but also domestic affairs and the management of the estates.

He spoke eloquently in the House and with personal knowledge on disabled subjects and refused to allow any special treatment for his wheelchair in the Commons. He was the first MP after the Second World War to enter parliament in a wheelchair. On first entering the chamber, the then prime minister, Harold Wilson, crossed the floor to shake his hand.

In 1973, the Earl inherited his father's titles and moved to the Lords. The Duchess had a fine eye for design and colour - evidenced to this day in the saloon and staircase hall at Bowhill. She had the knack of making even gloomy surroundings become fresh and interesting and was keen to open the houses to the public. She took charge of many exhibitions - including the authentic recreation of a Victorian kitchen - and supervised the much improved in-house publications.

The Duchess had a particular interest in needlework - she served on the council of the Royal School of Needlework - and set up a repair studio with some local volunteers ("the sewing ladies") who restored many fine fabrics. In Scotland, the Duchess worked tirelessly on behalf of the Border Spastic Association, the Border Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, ENABLE Scotland, Age Concern Scotland and the National Art Collections Fund.

A personal project that gave her much pleasure was the creation of The Clergy Cottage at Eildon Hall, which provided holidays for clergy from all over Britain. Peter Scott, a former chief executive of ENABLE Scotland, remembered the Duchess with special pleasure. He said: "She became our Patron in 1960 and was a great support when we were a new organisation. She attended many functions including the annual summer fete at Cove Castle near Helensburgh - her influence and charm opened many doors for us and helped improve the life of children and adults with learning disabilities."

The Duchess preserved an independence of mind and attitude all her life. She did not like bloodsports and supported animal welfare organisations. She never allied with any one political party and, on more than one occasion, voted SNP.

The Duchess preserved a quietly unassuming but authoritive presence. Friends and fellow committee members recall how patient she was and how carefully she listened to what others had to say. She was balanced, down-to-earth and displayed sound common sense but could, however, be forthright in defence of a project she favoured.

The obvious happiness she derived from her long marriage and the joy of her own family were central to her life.In 2003, the Buccleuchs celebrated their Golden Wedding along with their four children, ten grandchildren and numerous friends.

The Duke died in 2007 and thereafter, as the Dowager Duchess, she lived at Bowhill. She is survived by her three sons and a daughter.