In Memory of Elizabeth Violet Grizel Inge-Innes-Lillingston

A year ago today, Grizel Lillingston, grand dame of Thorpe Constantine, passed away at 99.

Grizel lived at Thorpe, just outside Tamworth, for more than 60 years, unexpectedly inheriting the estate while in her 20s and remaining there for the rest of her life. Born in Aberdeen in 1925 and raised on Scotland's east and west coasts, she was 15 when World War II broke out. By the age of 17, she was a voluntary ambulance driver, and at 18 she enlisted in the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS). Her wartime experiences were profound — she witnessed the gathering of the Allied fleet in Southampton on D-Day and later joined the joyous celebrations in London marking the end of hostilities.

Following the war, Grizel attended Edinburgh University, before moving to Switzerland to teach English. It was during this time that fate intervened — news of her cousin Hilda Inge’s passing called her back to England, where she learned she had inherited the Thorpe Estate. Previously unaware that she was in line for such a legacy, she embraced the challenge, making plans to study agriculture before meeting George Innes-Lillingston at the Perth Hunt Ball in 1954. Their whirlwind romance led to marriage in 1955 and, together, they embarked on a journey of restoration and stewardship at Thorpe.

Grizel and George transformed the Thorpe Estate into a thriving family home and successful agricultural enterprise. They had three children, Hugh, Mike and Susie, joining Margaret, George's daughter from his first marriage. George’s contributions to British agriculture earned him the Bledisloe Medal and a CBE, while Grizel’s hospitality and commitment to community made her a beloved figure. She was an active member of the Red Cross and was known for her gracious hosting of fêtes, house parties and shoots.

Her kindness frequently left a lasting impression. She had an extraordinary ability to remember names, faces and details of people’s lives, making everyone feel truly valued. She and George built a strong network of friends across Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire, often bringing people together with their warmth and generosity.

Beyond Thorpe, Scotland remained close to Grizel’s heart. Family holidays in the Highlands were filled with cherished traditions — picnics in the rain, long walks looking for jellyfish, and adventures on the sea.

Following George’s passing in 2002, Grizel remained active, traveling widely and engaging in intellectual pursuits and charitable work, including founding a discussion group that met regularly to debate global affairs. She celebrated her 80th and 90th birthdays surrounded by loved ones in Scotland, and was a regular congregant at St. Andrew's Church in Clifton Campville.

In her final years, though her memory faded, Grizel's spirit remained unbroken. Looked after by devoted carers and family members, she passed away peacefully at home on the 9th January 2025, a few months shy of her 100th birthday, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, resilience and joy.

Grizel Lillingston is survived by two of her three children, Hugh and Susie, her stepdaughter Margaret, five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and a wide circle of family and friends who will cherish her memory forever.

A funeral service to celebrate Grizel's life was held at St. Andrew's in Clifton on 14 February 2025, and she was buried in the churchyard at St Constantine’s at Thorpe Estate.