Churchill's Granddaughter dies at 58

ARABELLA Spencer-Churchill, granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill, has died in the UK.

Ms Spencer-Churchill, 58, founder of the Children’s World Charity, died at her home in Glastonbury, in southwest England, early today, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Her family and close friends were by her side.

However, her 34-year-old son, Nicholas Jake Barton, not able to be with her.

He was sentenced yesterday to at least 20 months’ jail in a Sydney court for his part in a $15 million ecstasy supply operation.

Barton pleaded guilty earlier this year to taking part in supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug in June 2006.

Born on October 31, 1949, Ms Spencer-Churchill was the daughter of Major Randolph Frederick Edward Churchill and June Osborne.

She married James Barton in August 1972 and then renowned juggler Ian ‘Haggis’ McLeod 16 years later.

As well as being a director of the Children’s World Charity, Ms Spencer-Churchill was governor of the Avalon Special School.

She died peacefully at St Edmund’s Cottages, Bove Town, Glastonbury.

Paying tribute to his late wife this evening Mr Mcleod, 44, said: “My loss is everywhere. She was to my mind one of the few people I would lay down my life for. We had been married for 20 years.”

Mr Mcleod said his wife was a Buddhist and arrangements following her death had respected that faith.

She leaves behind her son and one daughter Jessica, 19 from her marriage to Mr Mcleod.

A memorial service is being planned for early next year.

Source: The Herald Sun