The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Duchess of Abercorn since 1979, Alexandra ‘Sacha’ Hamilton, 72
The Duchess of Abercorn has died aged 72 following an illness. Alexandra Hamilton, known as Sacha, was born in Arizona in the US and married James, the then Marquess of Hamilton, in 1966.
James, a Liberal Unionist MP, succeeded to the dukedom in 1979, becoming the fifth Duke of Abercorn, and the couple raised three children at Baronscourt in Co Tyrone.
She was best known for establishing an allIreland creative arts programme for children, founding the Pushkin Trust in 1987 in honour of her Russian ancestor, novelist and playwright Alexander Pushkin, as a way to help youngsters impacted by the Troubles to express their feelings.
She was also honorary secretary of the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation in Omagh, Co Tyrone.
Her family tree included Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia, Princess Charlotte of Russia and Princess Sophie of Sweden.
In a nod to her roots, the duchess was appointed honorary consul to the Russian Federation in Northern Ireland.
Shiela McCaul, chairwoman of the Pushkin Trust, said: “Sacha was, quite honestly, one of the nicest, most genuine people I’ve ever met, and in the 30 years I’ve known her, I’ve never ceased to be amazed by her deep humanity, spirituality and the desire to do good, to make things better.
“From the great and the good, to the children in the schools she visited through the length and breadth of Ireland and beyond, she had time for everyone and had a unique way of making each person feel valued.”