TRIBUTES have been paid to former Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Lady Mary Holborow, who died on Friday, June 9, aged 80.

Lady Mary, daughter of the 8th Earl of Courtown, became the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall on retirement from her career as a magistrate.

She was appointed Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (DCVO) in the 2010 Birthday Honours.

The Rt Revd Tim Thornton, Bishop of Truro said: “Lady Mary will be missed by people right across Cornwall and far beyond. In her time as Lord Lieutenant she was tireless in her work and ubiquitous in travelling around the country, supporting a large number of organisations and community groups, and always cheerful and optimistic about the work she was doing.

“She loved life and she encouraged others to see the positive in all that was happening. Of course she and Geoffrey [her late husband] were a formidable couple and both had a fantastic network of people and groups right across the county.

“Lady Mary was known and loved by thousands of people right across the county and beyond. Her presence, her joyfulness and her enthusiasm for people and their wellbeing will be missed by everyone.”

One of the many organisations Lady Mary supported was the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, of which she was a former chairman.

Paula Martin, chief executive of Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, said: “The team at Cornwall Air Ambulance is very sad to learn that our former chairman Lady Mary Holborow has died.

“Lady Mary joined the board as chairman at the AGM in 2012 and retired in the summer of 2016, just as she had said she would, on reaching 80 years of age. Even before becoming chairman she was instrumental in facilitating the connection between this charity and our Royal Patron The Duchess of Cornwall.

“Lady Mary was an incredible woman who divided her time serving many worthy causes in the community. We are very privileged that the Cornwall Air Ambulance was one of them and we will miss her. On behalf of everyone at Cornwall Air Ambulance and especially the trustees who worked alongside her, we send our heartfelt condolences to Lady Mary’s family.”

The chairman of Cornwall Council, Cllr Mary May, said: :Cornwall has lost a true ambassador in Lady Mary. Her love and enthusiasm for the Duchy was infectious and her dedication over her 17 years as Lord Lieutenant was tireless.

“She always put people at their ease and was genuinely interested in what they had to say. She dedicated so much time of her own to countless charities and community organisations and inspired many others to get involved.”