Thanksgiving Service for Baroness Trumpington
Tuesday, 25th June 2019
Her Majesty The Queen was represented by the Rt Hon The Earl Peel GCVO DL at a service of thanksgiving for the life and work of The Rt Hon The Baroness Trumpington DCVO, at St Margaret’s Church at noon on Tuesday 25th June 2019.
HRH The Prince of Wales was represented by The Most Honourable The Marquess of Salisbury KG KCVO DL, and HRH The Princess Royal was represented by The Hon Dame Shân Legge-Bourke DCVO.
TRH The Duke and Duchess of Kent were represented by Nicholas Marden LVO, HRH Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy was represented by Major Charles Macfarlane.
The service was conducted by the Reverend Jane Sinclair, Canon of Westminster and Rector of St Margaret’s Church, who said in her Bidding:
With her independent spirit, fearless sense of humour, and intelligent wit, Jean Trumpington lived life to the full. She is remembered with great affection for her war service at Bletchley Park, her influence on pupils at her husband’s schools, her service in local and national government, her forthright political views, and her rich range of friendships. Jean Trumpington was never afraid to stand up for what she knew to be the truth; she had no time for cant or dissembling. YouTube and her autobiography alike bear witness to her unsurpassed ability to diffuse difficult situations with a witty remark or gesture. She unashamedly enjoyed the celebrity status of her later years, but always remained self-deprecating. Yet beyond Jean’s public persona, she remained utterly devoted to her family and close friends throughout her long life.
Adam Barker, son, read from Coming up Trumps by Jean Barker, Baroness Trumpington; and Christopher Barker, grandson, read Life goes on by Joyce Grenfell; and Gigi Barker, granddaughter read from The Glory of the Garden by Rudyard Kipling.
The Addresses were given by the Rt Hon The Lord Deben and the Rt Hon The Lord Elton.
Prayers were led by the Reverend Christopher Stoltz, Minor Canon and Precentor, and said by: Martin Priestly, Headmaster, The Leys School; The Reverend Edward Lewis, Vicar, St Mary the Virgin, Kenton; the Reverend Prebendary Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons; and The Rt Hon The Earol of Arran.
The service was sung by the Choir of St Margaret’s Church, directed by James O'Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers. The organ was played by Thomas Trotter, organist, and the trumpet by Mark Law.
