TRIBUTES are being paid to Newport-born Baroness Margaret Delacourt-Smith who died earlier this month.

Born in April 1916, Margaret Hando was the daughter of the late Fred Hando, a headmaster, writer and artist, and was educated at Newport High School for Girls and St Anne’s College, Oxford.

In 1939, she married Charles Smith, who became Lord Delacourt-Smith, and worked as a teacher, also serving as a councillor before her husband’s death in 1972.

After his death, Lady Margaret was created a Baroness in her own right in 1974, for her work in prison reform, taking the title Baroness Delacourt-Smith of Alteryn.

Her cousin, Cllr David Hando said she was a very considerate and kind woman.

Cllr Hando said: “She lived in London for much of her life before going to America with her second husband, Professor Charles Blackton.

“She was a very formidable lady, but also very kind and hard working. She was very considerate and always thought of others.”

Baroness Delacourt-Smith died on June 8, leaving family in the Home Counties and Kent, in Newport her cousin Miriam and in Cardiff her sister-in-law Susan, the widow of her brother, Robert.

Baroness Delacourt-Smith’s funeral will be held at the Chilterns Crematorium, Amersham, Buckinghamshire on Thursday at 11.45am. Donations for the Campaign to Protect Rural England can be sent to Arnold Funeral Service, Weatherd Road, Marlow, Bucks, SL7 3AH.