Irene Violet Freesia Janet Augusta Astor, Baroness Astor of Hever ( Haig; 7 October 1919 – 12 August 2001) was an English philanthropist and member of the Astor family. Her philanthropic contributions included being chairman of the Sunshine Fund for Blind Children from 1947 to 1989, during which she raised over £14 million, She served as vice president of the Royal National Institute for the Blind from 1977 to her death in 2001.

Early life

Astor was born on 7 October 1919 at 27 Chesham Place in Belgravia, the youngest of four children of military officer and later Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig (1861–1928), and Dorothy Maud Vivian (1879–1939), a daughter of Hussey Vivian, 3rd Baron Vivian. Her father was created Earl Haig when she was 12 days old entitling her to the prefix Lady. Her elder siblings were Lady Alexandra Henrietta Louisa Haig (wife of Rear-Admiral Clarence Howard-Johnston and Hugh Trevor-Roper), Lady Victoria Doris Rachel Haig (wife of Col. Andrew Montagu Douglas Scott) and George Haig, 2nd Earl Haig.

Career

During World War II she worked for the Red Cross, and was also involved in the Girls' Training Corps, leading a group of girls who turned the ruined site of 145 Piccadilly into an allotment. Irene was chairman of the Sunshine Fund for Blind Children from 1947 to 1989. She raised over £14 million as chairman. From 1977 until her death, she served as vice president of the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

Personal life

She married Gavin Astor, later the 2nd Baron Astor of Hever, the eldest son of John Jacob Astor, 1st Baron Astor of Hever, and Violet Mary Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound on 4 October 1945. She became Lady Astor of Hever when her husband succeeded to the barony on the death of his father in 1971. They had five children: She died on 12 August 2001.