TRIBUTES have been pouring in from all over the county following the death of Lady Rosamund Holland-Martin, OBE, a tireless fund-raiser and member of one of Worcestershire's oldest families.

The energetic and indomitable chairman of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children was also deputy Lord Lieutenant of Hereford and Worcester in 1983.

Lady Holland-Martin, who died on June 18, was particularly concerned with the welfare of Overbury Estate which had been in the Holland-Martin family for 300 years.

Lady Holland-Martin, who lived at Bell's Castle, Kemerton, died at the age of 86. She was president of the Friends of Worcester Cathedral, governor at Malvern College and chairman of the Tewkesbury Abbey Appeal.

During her period of office with the NSPCC, of which she was chairman from 1969 to 1987, Lady Holland-Martin worked closely with the then director, Dr Alan Gilmour, to draw up a centenary charter outlining priorities for the future.

The charter's first aim was to establish 60 child protection teams across the country. Lady Holland-Martin launched a centenary appeal led by the Duke of Westminster, which succeeded in raising more than £14m.

The appeal was one of the most successful of its time and was characterised by imaginative new ideas such as persuading major companies to match their employees' donations.

John Blackshaw, secretary of the Malvernian Society at Malvern College, said she was a remarkable woman.

"Lady Holland-Martin supported her husband when he was chairman of the college council and did a lot of tireless work in her own right," said Mr Blackshaw.

"She opened the school sports hall in 1978. She was a national figure who raised millions for charity and once you met her you never forgot her."

Devoted to WVS

Lady Holland-Martin was born Rosamund Mary Horn and during the war she devoted herself to the Women's Voluntary Service, working as personal assistant to its chairman, the Dowager Marchioness of Reading.

She returned to the organisation with which she had begun her career in the voluntary sector when she was appointed vice chairman of the WRVS from 1978 to 1981.

Her habit of collecting never deserted her, and the family home is packed with pictures, sculptures and ornaments collected on her travels.

Lady Holland Martin, who was born in 1914, married Deric Holland-Martin, later Admiral Sir Deric, a scion of the Martin banking family, and was later based in Malta for much of the 60s and 70s.

When the British fleet was limping home from Suez she insisted on holding a party in Valletta to boost the low morale of the officers.

Lady Holland-Martin is survived by a son, Benn, and a daughter, Emma. She also leaves three grandchildren.

The funeral service was due to take place yesterday at St Faith's Church, Overbury at noon.