Bronwen Astor

The Right Honourable
The Viscountess Astor
Bronwen with her husband, William Astor, 3rd Viscount Astor, on their wedding day
Personal details
Born Janet Bronwen Alun Pugh
(1930-06-06)6 June 1930
Died 28 December 2017(2017-12-28) (aged 87)
Spouse(s)
William Astor, 3rd Viscount Astor
(m. 1960; his death 1966)
Children Janet Gordon-Lennox, Duchess of Richmond
Pauline Astor
Parents Sir John Alun Pugh
Kathleen Mary Goodyear
Occupation Model

Janet Bronwen Astor, Viscountess Astor (née Alun Pugh; 6 June 1930 – 28 December 2017[1]) was an English model. She was muse to the couturier Pierre Balmain, who called her one of the most beautiful women he had ever met.[2]

Biography

Born in London, the daughter of John Alun Pugh, the Dowager Lady Astor was generally known by her middle name, "Bronwen".[3] After the sudden death of a friend in 1951, she embarked on an inner journey of self-discovery culminating in 1959 in a profound mystical experience.[2]

On 14 October 1960 she married William Astor, 3rd Viscount Astor (known to his family and friends as Bill Astor), the eldest son of Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor (1879—1952), and his wife, Nancy, Viscountess Astor (1879—1964). Upon her marriage, Bronwen became the mistress of Cliveden, the mansion which her mother-in-law had made famous with her political salons. Within three years of her marriage Bronwen's world was turned upside down by the infamous Profumo Affair, which brought down Prime Minister Harold Macmillan's government. Bill died from a heart attack in 1966, leaving Bronwen with two young daughters.

Bronwen left Cliveden with her daughters, to live in Tuesley Manor, Godalming, Surrey. She opened her new home to the homeless and in 1983 trained as a psychotherapist. Her biography, Bronwen Astor: Her Life and Times, written by Peter Stanford, was published in 2000. When she left Tuesley it was sold for £1.85 million.

Bronwen became a convert to the Roman Catholic faith, serving as an Extraordinary minister at Holy Apostles Catholic Church, Pimlico.[4]

Family

Husband

Children

  • Hon. Janet Elizabeth Astor (born 1 December 1961). The Duchess of Richmond and Gordon since 2017.
  • Hon. Pauline Marian Astor (born 26 March 1964)

References

  1. ↑ Bronwen, Lady Astor obituary
  2. 1 2 "The Women: Bronwen Astor". Visionary Dialogues with Modern Women.
  3. ↑ "Janet Bronwen Alun Pugh". thePeerage.com.
  4. ↑ "Eucharistic Ministers". Pimlico, London: Holy Apostles Church. Archived from the original on 1 August 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
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