Kentish Express Ashford & District
Much-loved countess, 93
years to recognise the good work done by women in the county.
She was one of the first of two female Deputy Lieutenants (DL) appointed in Kent in 1973.
Countess Mountbatten and husband John had eight children: Norton, Michael-John, Anthony, Joanna, Amanda, Philip and twins Nicholas and Timothy.
Tragedy stuck the family when her 79-year-old father, motherin-law and her 14-year-old son Nicholas, were killed while on a fishing trip off the coast of Sligo on August 27, 1979.
The IRA had detonated gelignite hidden under the floorboards of the Knatchbull’s old green boat Shadow V.
Countess Mountbatten survived along with her husband and Timothy, who was Nicho- las’ identical twin.
A 15-year-old Irish schoolboy called Paul Maxwell, who was helping out on the boat, was also killed.
Countess Mountbatten’s mother-in-law, the Dowager Baroness Brabourne, 83, died from internal injuries 24 hours later.
She subsequently succeeded her father to become Countess Mountbatten of Burma.
In an interview with Telegraph in 2008 she said: “My own memory is of a vision of a ball exploding upwards and then of ‘coming to’ in the sea and wondering if I would be able to reach the surface before I passed out.
“I have very vague memories, now and again, of floating among the wood and debris, being pulled into a small rubber dinghy before totally losing consciousness for days.”
She also recalled her devastation after learning that her son had died.
“As anyone whose child dies will know only too well, this news utterly devastated me,” she said.
“In fact I was so overwhelmed by grief for Nicky, who was just on the threshold of his life, that I began to feel guilty that I was not able to grieve for my father, whom I really adored, in the same way.
“But the world was mourning him and there was a comfort in knowing that.”
Afterwards she turned her personal loss into a force for good by using her experience to help other bereaved parents, through her support of two charities: the Child Bereavement Charity and Compassionate Friends.
Countess Mountbatten’s funeral will take place at St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge, London on Tuesday. There is no memorial service.
Do you have any memories of Countess Mountbatten? Write to Kentish Express, Unit 4, Park Mall shopping centre, Ashford TN24 8RY or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup. co.uk