A fall from a horse in 1958 which left Baroness Masham of Ilton paraplegic ultimately contributed to her death, an inquest has heard.
The Baroness, who also held the title Countess of Swinton, died from sepsis on March 12 this year, four weeks after being admitted with breathlessness.
Her inquest in Northallerton today heard a statement from Dr David Spence, a consultant at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton. In a statement read to the court, he said:
“She developed sepsis which failed to respond to antibiotics. She was placed on end of life care.”
The inquest heard Baroness Masham, who was born Susan Lilian Primrose Sinclair, had been competing in an event in Cirencester when her horse took a jump badly. She fell and her horse landed on her, leaving her with a fractured vertebra in her back.
As a result, she became paraplegic – yet went on to live a “full and active life”, including competing in the Paralympics and founding the Spinal Injuries Association.
She was made a life peer and continued to campaign for disability rights. She remained in generally good health, the inquest heard, until she felt unwell in February and was admitted to hospital.
Dr Spence added:
“Her paraplegia was a contributor to her general frailty in later life.”
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Dr Spence said he viewed the paraplegia as an underlying factor in her death. He said she had myelodysplasia, a rare type of blood cancer where the bone marrow does not produce enough health cells, and the sepsis that developed was of unknown origin.
Her condition deteriorated after admission to hospital and she died there on March 12. She was 87.
In a statement read at the inquest, her daughter Clare said:
“The doctors and all nursing and care staff were in our opinion exemplary. Information about her treatment and care was delivered professionally, with great compassion and calmness at all times.”
Assistant coroner Alison Norton concluded her cause of death was accidental, stemming from her riding accident 65 years ago.
Baroness Masham was married to David Cunliffe Lister, who became Earl of Swinton in 1972. The couple adopted two daughters and were part of Cunliffe-Lister family, which has owned Swinton Park near Masham since the late 19th century.
Harrogate Ladies’ College opens new theatreHarrogate Ladies’ College has officially opened a new performing arts centre after a major refurbishment project.
The work included the installation of new sound and lighting technology and extensive redecoration of the venue.
The centre has been named the Swinton Theatre.
Parents and alumni who donated to the project, chose the name to recognise how the Swintons helped the school during World War Two.
With just 10 days notice, the school was relocated to what was then Swinton Castle for more than 6 years between 1939-1946. The schools premises in Harrogate was requisitioned by the Ministry of Air Production for the war effort. The castle has since become a hotel and spa.
The Countess and Earl of Swinton attended the theatre’s official opening.
Principal of the college, Sylvia Brett said:
“The generosity of the Swinton Estate in providing a home for the school during the war, is echoed in the generosity of our alumni and current parents in funding the refurbishment of this beautiful space.
“It’s been wonderful over recent weeks to see pupils of all ages enjoying using the space to express themselves through performance. I never underestimate how brave pupils are when they step out onto a stage and I know that the confidence this gives them is something they will take with them beyond school and throughout life.”
The school has also recently formed the Harrogate Ladies’ College Dance Company. Its aim is to provide additional opportunities for pupils in the performing arts.
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Inquest hears Lady Masham died from sepsis
Lady Masham died from sepsis after being admitted to hospital, an inquest has heard.
At the hearing, held this morning at the Coroner’s Court in Northallerton, assistant coroner Richard Watson said Susan Cunliffe-Lister had been admitted to the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton on February 2, feeling unwell and breathless.
She died there on March 12, aged 87.
The initial cause of death given at today’s inquest was sepsis of unknown origin, and myelodysplasia, a rare type of blood cancer where the bone marrow does not produce enough healthy blood cells.
The court heard her disability, caused by a riding accident in 1958, was also believed to have contributed to her death. The inquest was adjourned to a later date.
Born Susan Lilian Primrose Sinclair in April 1935, she became paraplegic in the accident, using a wheelchair for the rest of her life.
Until her death, Lady Masham was a prominent disability rights campaigner and founded the Spinal Injuries Association in 1974.
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She represented Great Britain in the inaugural Paralympics in 1960, as well as in 1964 and 1968, winning two gold medals, six silver, and two bronze, in swimming and table tennis.
She became Lady Masham on her marriage to David Cunliffe-Lister in 1959, and the couple then became the Earl and Countess of Swinton in 1972 after the death of his father.
She was made a life peer in 1970 as Baroness Masham of Ilton and was the longest-serving woman ever to sit in the House of Lords. She continued to focus on disability rights throughout her life and was patron of Harrogate-based charity Disability Action Yorkshire.