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Bronwen Astor, Viscountess Astor

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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
London, England
Died28 December 2017(2017-12-28) (aged 87)
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1960; died 1966)​
Children2
Parents
  • Sir Alun Pugh[2] (father)
  • Kathleen Goodyear[1] (mother)
Occupationfashion model
psychotherapist

Janet Bronwen Astor, Viscountess Astor (born Janet Bronwen Alun Pugh; 6 June 1930 – 28 December 2017) was an English fashion model and psychotherapist. She was muse to the couturier Pierre Balmain, who called her one of the most beautiful women he had ever met.[3]

Early life

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Born in London, Janet (generally known by her middle name, Bronwen) was raised in Hampstead, which was then in the county of Middlesex. 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.[3]

Career

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Before her marriage, Bronwen had a career as "the most celebrated model of her generation" and, later, as a BBC television presenter. She was muse to Pierre Balmain, the Parisian couturier, who said she was one of the world's most beautiful women along with Greta Garbo, Vivien Leigh and Marlene Dietrich.[4]

In 1983, she trained as a psychotherapist, entering practice in 1986.[4]

Personal life

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On 14 October 1960, she married William Astor, 3rd Viscount Astor (1907—1966) as his third wife. Viscount Astor, known to his family and friends as Bill Astor, was the eldest son of Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor, and his wife, Nancy, Viscountess Astor. Upon her marriage, Bronwen became the mistress of Cliveden House, the mansion which her mother-in-law had made famous with her political salons. Together, they were the parents of:[5]

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.[5] Bronwen left Cliveden with her daughters, to live in Tuesley Manor, Godalming, Surrey. She opened her new home to the homeless. When she left Tuesley it was sold for £1.85 million. [7]

Bronwen became a convert to the Roman Catholic faith, serving as an extraordinary minister at Holy Apostles Catholic Church, Pimlico.[8] She died on 28 December 2017.[4] Her biography, Bronwen Astor: Her Life and Times, written by Peter Stanford, was published in 2000.[9]

References

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  1. ^ Stanford, Peter (January 2018). "Bronwen, Lady Astor obituary". The Guardian.
  2. ^ Stanford, Peter (January 2018). "Bronwen, Lady Astor obituary". The Guardian.
  3. ^ a b "The Women: Bronwen Astor". Visionary Dialogues with Modern Women. 1 September 2006. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012.
  4. ^ a b c Stanford, Peter (1 January 2018). "Bronwen, Lady Astor obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  5. ^ a b c "Astor, Viscount (UK, 1917)". cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Heraldic Media Limited. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  6. ^ "Richmond, Duke of (E, 1675)". cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Heraldic Media Limited. Archived from the original on 18 March 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  7. ^ Churchill, Penny (6 March 2023). "A beautiful 15th century house that was home to a supermodel caught up in the Profumo scandal". Country Life Magazine. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Eucharistic Ministers". Pimlico, London: Holy Apostles Church. Archived from the original on 1 August 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  9. ^ Stanford, Peter (2000). Bronwen Astor: her life and times. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-00-255839-6.
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