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Lady Anne Evelyn Beatrice Tree (; 6 November 1927 – 9 August 2010) was a British philanthropist, prison visitor, prisoner rights activist, and the founder of the charity
On 3 November 1949, she married the artist Michael Lambert Tree (1921–1999), son of the politician
Fine Cell Work
Fine Cell Work is a British charity that runs rehabilitation projects in prisons by training prisoners in paid, skilled needlework to be undertaken by them in their cells. It then sells the hand-stitched cushions, quilts and giftware in its onlin ...
, which gives prisoners the opportunity to do worthwhile work and acquire useful job skills for life after prison.
Early life
She was born Lady Anne Evelyn Beatrice Cavendish on 6 November 1927 at 2 Upper Belgrave Street, London, the fourth child of Edward Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire (1895–1950), and his wife, Lady Mary Gascoyne-Cecil (1895–1988), granddaughter of Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury.Career
She first wanted to be a prison visitor at the age of 14, and took up this role from 1949 until 1974, although she struggled at first to gain access to women's prisons, so resorted to extensive letter writing and using her wide network of friends and relations. One of the prisoners she regularly visited was the murdererMyra Hindley
The Moors murders were carried out by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley between July 1963 and October 1965, in and around Manchester, England. The victims were five children—Pauline Reade, John Kilbride, Keith Bennett, Lesley Ann Downey, and Edward E ...
, whom she introduced to Lord Longford
Francis Aungier Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford, 1st Baron Pakenham, Baron Pakenham of Cowley, (5 December 1905 – 3 August 2001), known to his family as Frank Longford and styled Lord Pakenham from 1945 to 1961, was a British politician and ...
; he later argued for her release.
Lady Anne became very aware of how boring and pointless life in prison could seem, and founded the charity Fine Cell Work
Fine Cell Work is a British charity that runs rehabilitation projects in prisons by training prisoners in paid, skilled needlework to be undertaken by them in their cells. It then sells the hand-stitched cushions, quilts and giftware in its onlin ...
, which gives men and women in prison the opportunity to create intricately-detailed cushion covers, wall hangings and rugs. She was keen on embroidery and needlework herself, and was confident that men would enjoy it too. The designs are created by leading fashion designers, and the skilled work can be rewarding, and may lead to paid work on release.
Personal life
On 3 November 1949, she married the artist Michael Lambert Tree (1921–1999), son of the politician Ronald Tree
Arthur Ronald Lambert Field Tree (26 September 1897 – 14 July 1976) was a British Conservative Party politician, journalist and investor who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Harborough constituency in Leicestershire from 1933 ...
, and his wife Nancy Lancaster, a partner in the furnishings company Colefax and Fowler
Colefax Group plc is a designer and distributor of furnishing fabrics and wallpaper, based in London in the United Kingdom.
History
The business was founded in the 1930s by Sibyl, Lady Colefax (1874–1950). In 1938 she was joined in the busin ...
. They had two adopted daughters, including the writer and activist for rewilding the English landscape, Isabella Tree.
After the death of his uncle, Peter Beatty
Peter Randolph Louis Beatty (2 April 1910 – 26 October 1949) was an English racehorse owner and breeder, businessman and member of the aristocracy.
Early life and personality
Born on 2 April 1910, Beatty was the younger son of David Beatt ...
, on 26 October 1949, Tree inherited Mereworth Castle
Mereworth Castle is a grade I listed Neo-Palladian country house in Mereworth, Kent, England. This source attributes the plasterwork to Francesco Bagutti, but Giovanni Bagutti would appear to be more likely.
History
Originally the site of a ...
, Kent, where they lived subsequently. In 1968 the Trees bought Shute House, near Shaftesbury, where they commissioned Geoffrey Jellicoe to design a notable garden.
Later life
On 9 August 2010, she died of lung cancer at her home, Lower Lane House in Compton Abbas, Dorset.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tree, Lady Anne 1927 births 2010 deaths Daughters of English dukes 20th-century British philanthropists