Churchill hails courage of wife Catherine as she dies at 53
WHEN Randolph Churchill proposed to fine arts student Catherine Lancaster, the engagement ring was a ruby with two diamonds that had belonged to his greatgrandmother, Clementine.
Now, he’s been left devastated by Catherine’s untimely death at the age of 53 after a ‘brave battle with lung cancer’.
A spokesman for the family says: ‘ Catherine was a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. She shone brightly all through her life.’
She was diagnosed with cancer during the pandemic, ‘ which she battled stoically through months of intense treatment’, the spokesman says.
‘Throughout her illness, she showed immense courage, grace, and most of all honesty.’
Born in the Bahamas, City insurance chief’s daughter Catherine fell in love with Randolph when she was 17 and their eyes met across a crowded dancefloor in London. They were married when she was 23, with the reception held at Chartwell, Sir Winston Churchill’s country retreat in Kent.
Randolph, 57, who is the son of late Tory MP and defence minister Winston Churchill, was born just 36 hours before the death of his illustrious great-grandfather.
He has a son and three daughters with Catherine, the youngest born in 2007. The family are thankful for the support of friends.
The spokesman adds: ‘ She was grateful to have such an incredible group rallied around her. From her friends and family, she drew true strength and hope. We remember her radiant smile, kind and gentle personality, infectious sense of fun and the eternal love of her entire family, who will miss her greatly.’
Catherine’s funeral is to be held next week and the family will hold an open garden in July at their home in Westerham, Kent, to celebrate her life and raise money for Cancer Research UK. ‘She cherished her “miraculous garden” and all the joys of the flowers and the varied wildlife,’ the spokesman says. ‘ Her childhood spent in the Caribbean inspired her love of nature and vibrant colours.’