Tributes paid to Lady Victoria Starkey, of Southwell, who has died aged 77

A woman known for her sense of humour and large character has died aged 77.

Lady Victoria Starkey, of Hill Farm House, Halam, died on Friday, at King’s Mill Hospital after a short illness.

Born Victoria Henrietta Fleetwood Fuller, she was brought up in Wiltshire as the daughter of Colonel Christopher Fuller and Susan Beatrice Hambro.

She married Sir John Starkey in the 1960s, with the pair beginning married life in Australia and London.

They moved to Norwood Park, Southwell, in 1972, which Lady Starkey renovated to make a family home.

They were married for 48 years.

Former Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire Sir Andrew Buchanan said: “Victoria was the most beautiful and brilliant hostess of Norwood’s many fabulous parties when they lived there as a family.”

Lady Starkey supported her husband John in running Starkeys Fruit Farm and especially enjoyed bringing giant urns of tea to the strawberry pickers.

Joan Nix, who has worked for Starkeys at Norwood since she was 18, said: “I got to know Lady Starkey really well and she was a great friend to me.

“We only had one cross word in 32 years and she brought me flowers to make me feel better — that was typical of her, there was never a dull moment.”

The mother of four was a great supporter of charities in the area and often helped out at community groups.

Jo Kitchin, of Farnsfield, was friends with Lady Starkey for more than 50 years.

She said: “Always supportive of any local charities, especially modelling for Rainbows, or attending Robin Hood Lunch Club, and helping me with the Brownie pack, she was so thoughtful and keen to help everyone.

“Victoria was a great one for a pop in, sometimes when it wasn’t the best time, however her unique, complicated, yet huge character and sense of humour always won over some of her mischievous moments.

“There will never be anyone like her in the area for a long time; she made everything interesting..”

As President of the Nottinghamshire NSPCC, Lady Starkey collaborated with patron Jenny Farr to organise a celebrity cricket match in 1984.

Jenny said: “Victoria galvanised everyone to the maximum. She was very amusing too, and some of her views on the perils of over-giving are actually quite refreshing in this day and age.

“She was one of the most thoughtful and generous people I’ve met.”

Lady Starkey also supported several charities, including Beaumond House Hospice Care, Reach and Framework.

She attended local churches, was an active member of the Women’s Institute and U3A, and became a benefactress of the theatre and arts.

Lady Starkey’s daughter, Suzannah Edwards-Jones said her mother would be remembered fondly as ‘the Lady on the Trike with the Dog’ and that her exploits with her dachshund entertained the community over the years

She leaves four children and nine grandchildren.