Funeral Service: Violet, Lady Aitken

Lady Aitken and her husband, Sir Max Aitken Bt, Chairman of Beaverbrook Newspapers, were keen powerboat competitors. Sir Max bought her a boat which they named Ultra Violet. She was soon competing with her husband and she took part in the Round Britain Race.

Lady Aitken’s funeral took place with COVID restrictions at the South Berkshire Crematorium, with a full house of 30 friends and relatives.

The funeral was led by local Catholic priest Father David O’sullivan. Grandson Rory Aitken, son of the 3rd Lord Beaverbrook, delivered a charming address:

‘How was it possible, we wondered, that someone in her 60s could compete in a five-hour powerboat race, revelling in the salt and grit of the endeavour, and yet always emerging immaculate with no complaints?

‘I loved seeing these weathered Italian powerboat racers in Cowes, quite weak at the knees as they talked with bowed respect about “Lady Vi”.

‘It was pretty cool to have a powerboat-racing granny, and to be able to tell schoolfriends stories of a granny who’d been drinking at Sandown Races with Jimmy White – the famous snooker world champion known as the Whirlwind.

‘It’s worth noting that letters of condolence were received both by a retired Chief of the Air Staff and by an RAF driver who drove her only once.

‘They said of her in the papers that they don’t make them like that any more. I’m not sure they made many like that before either, to be honest.’

There were readings from Max Aitken (grandson) and Charlotte Bellasi (née Aitken). The Rev Jonathan Aitken, a cousin-in-law, read a prayer. A cousin of Sir Max, Jonathan Aitken, adds, ‘I was fond of my Aunt Vi (as I erroneously called her). She rode the tiger of her tempestuous marriage to my cousin Max and ended her days peacefully as the Aitken family matriarch, living among her beloved racing community near Lambourn.’