Bridget Cracroft-Eley

Who was Bridget Cracroft-Eley?

Bridget Katharine Cracroft-Eley CVO JP was a former British secretary, farmer and magistrate.

Born in Lincolnshire, she was the daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Weston Cracroft-Amcotts and his wife Rhona Clifton-Brown, daughter of Edward Clifton-Brown. In 1995, she received an honorary doctorate by the De Montfort University and in 2003 by the University of Lincoln.

Cracroft-Eley was appointed High Sheriff of Lincolnshire for 1989 and served as Justice of the Peace of that county. She was appointed the first female Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire in 1995, an office she finally held until her death. In 1997, Cracroft-Eley became High Steward of Lincoln Cathedral.

On 31 October 1959, she married Robert Peel Charles Cracroft-Eley, son of Charles Ryves Maxwell-Eley. They had two children, one son and one daughter. Cracroft-Eley was awarded a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the New Year Honours 2008. She died in August of that year at her home in Hackthorn, aged 74, on a brain tumour.