POPULAR historian Dorothy Thompson, the widow of international peace campaigner Edward (EP) Thompson, has died at the age of 87.

For many years their well known family home was the country house Wick Episcopi in the village of Rushwick, just beyond the western boundary of Worcester.

However, following the death of her husband, Mrs Thompson moved into Worcester and had lived in Rainbow Hill Terrace for around 15 years.

The couple met while studying history at Cambridge University in the 1940s and became regulars at peace demonstrations for more than 40 years. The pair marched together at Aldermaston in 1958, campaigned for peace in the 1960s, fought the Cruise and SS-20 missiles in the 70s and watched with joy as the Iron Curtain came down in the late 80s. However, apart from her peace campaigning with EP, Dorothy Thompson was a respected historian with many published works.

She was best known for her writing on the social and cultural aspects of the 19th century Chartist movement and the struggle of workers and women for their rights.

“In her writings the Chartists became rescued from a condescending reputation as good losers and through her they became very human and dignified fighters for a fair and democratic Britain,” said Jeff Carpenter, historian and a former mayor of Worcester.

“Dorothy Thompson’s home was always a place of kindness and welcome. There you would meet friends and scholars from all over, keen to receive her insight and judgement on their work.

“Indeed, she appeared to maintain e-mail contacts with seemingly half the world. Those who knew Dorothy will ever remember her as a true and inspiring friend and as a brilliant spiritual campaigner for a better world.”

Born in Greenwich, south east London, Mrs Thompson was active in the Communist party in her student days, although later quit with a vision of forming a New Left in British politics. She was active in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and in 1982 edited the collection Over Our Dead Bodies: Women Against the Bomb. She also contributed to the book Defend Us Against Our Defenders which was a plea for democracy and toleration. From 1968 she had worked in the history department of Birmingham University.

Dorothy Thompson died in Worcestershire Royal Hospital and is survived by her three children – Ben, Mark and Kate – and by five grandchildren. Her funeral was private, but a memorial service will be held at a later date.