Friends and family joined aristocracy, community leaders and colleagues to pay tribute to Philippa Grant at her funeral.
Mrs Grant, the Countess of Dysart and a well-known community activist, died on September 16 in a car accident on the A9 near the Slochd.
Around 500 mourners were led by Johnnie, the 13th Earl of Dysart and her husband of 51 years, along with their children, Louisa, James and Alexandra.
Following a private burial at a spot she chose herself, a service was held outdoors at the family home on the Rothiemurchas Estate near Aviemore.
Guests were encouraged by the family to wear bright clothing, in keeping with Mrs Grant’s colourful character.
Memories of ‘loud and infectious laugh’
The one hour service was led by the Most Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, who spoke at the recent thanksgiving service for the Queen at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.
The Earl of Aboyne spoke about Mrs Grant’s childhood and holidays his family spent with the Grants.
He said he remembered Mrs Grant for her “fun, entertainment and leadership” and “loud and infectious laugh”.
Friend and colleague Lorraine Mann described Mrs Grant as “enthusiasm on legs” and a “people magnet”.
Referring to her many local and national roles, she said “health in Scotland and the Highlands, tourism, advocacy, rural and economic development, early years provision and housing, are among the areas that today would be the poorer had it not been for Philippa”.
Michael Chaplin, creator of the Monarch of the Glen TV series, which was filmed in the area, told the gathering Mrs Grant had briefed him on who to make contact with – and who not to.
During the funeral, Pipe Major Alistair Duthie played two tunes, ‘Countess of Dysart’s Welcome to Edinburgh Castle’, and ‘Philippa, Countess of Dysart’s Farewell’.
Mrs Grant grew up in Buckinghamshire with two younger brothers.
Following her marriage in 1971, she moved to Rothiemurchus in 1975. She worked in partnership with her husband to develop the estate which now has about 50 team members in a multiple land-use business.
Rothiemurchus welcomes 300,000-500,000 visitors annually to an area of the Cairngorms National Park.
Philippa Grant: A ‘life force’
In an incredibly busy life, Mrs Grant served on a wide range of local and national bodies and was described by her family as a “life force”.
She was awarded an MBE for services to NHS Scotland.
She also had a long involvement with rural development in the north of Scotland, particularly through community action.
Mrs Grant was a founder and director of Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise company. She was the first chair of Highland Community Care Forum.
One of the ideas it developed was the Princess Royal Trust Highland Carers Project.
As a member of the Scottish Tourist Board, Mrs Grant oversaw the re-design of Scotland’s brown road signs.
She was director of Maggie’s Highlands between 2000-2015 and also served on the national board of directors.
She was a director and chair of Cairngorms Chamber of Commerce/Cairngorms Business Partnership. Between 1999-2001 she was a member of the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland.
Prince’s Trust and Highland Hospice
From 1995 to 1998 she as a member of various Prince’s Trust committees, and served on the Scottish Careers Service Consultation Group, the Rural Commission of the Scottish Episcopal Church and Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Education Business Partnership.
In addition, she was a member of the Highland Hospice. She was director of Voluntary Action in Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise Company Ltd. Mrs Grant was also company member and director of Scottish Council Y.W.C.A Housing Society.
She was founder chair of Badenoch and Strathspey Community Advice and Information Service. Mrs Grant also served as Highland chair and Scottish committee member of the Scottish Pre-Schools Playgroups Association. She was a member of the North of Scotland Electricity Consultative Committee.
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