Margaret Audrey White, Lady Wardington (2 November 1927 – 8 November 2014) was a red-headed English model who was refused a job as a BBC announcer in case her powerful looks "alarmed timid men from Wigan and country districts."[1] Later she had a career in fashion journalism before concentrating on charity work.
White was born in Bradford, the only child of a commercial traveller who left the family when she was young. She grew up in North London with her mother, Eva. They endured the Blitz during the Second World War together with their cat, named Luftwaffe. She took her school examinations at Henrietta Barnett School at the same time as German doodlebug attacks, the girls sheltering under their desks if it seemed a hit was imminent.[1]
Career
White's first job was as an assistant at an Elizabeth Arden salon in London's Bond Street. Phyllis Digby Morton, editor of Woman and Beauty asked White if she would be photographed for the magazine. From there, a career as a model developed.[1]
White appeared as a bride in posters for British National Savings, had minor roles in several films and worked as an announcer on commercial radio. In 1951 she was rejected for the position of a stand-in BBC television announcer over fears that her appearance would overshadow the content, causing the press to exclaim that she was "Too beautiful for the BBC!".[1][2]
In 1951 and 1952, White was the face of an advertising campaign for the washing powder Dreft and appeared endorsing the product across newspapers and magazines. Advertising in Picture Post described her as a "fashion model and T.V. girl" and quoted White as saying "I always find time to give my nylons and undies that all-important nightly dip in Dreft".[3]
In September 1952 she appeared on BBC Radio's Light Programme in the series I Like My Job.[4]
In 1954, White met Marcus Morris, managing editor of Housewife magazine, at a party and was offered the job of fashion editor on the magazine. After six years at Housewife she took the same role at Go magazine.[1]
Marriage and later life
In 1953, White married theatrical impresario, farmer, and former Brooklands racing driver Jack Dunfee[5] but the marriage failed. In 1964, she married Christopher Henry Beaumont Pease, 2nd Lord Wardington, thus becoming Lady Wardington. The couple adopted three children. Lord Wardington was an enthusiastic book collector and together they attended many bibliographic events. Lady Wardington devoted herself to charitable causes from Meals on Wheels to local campaigns. She set up a course to teach women money management and wrote the Superhints books for charity from suggestions she canvassed from her many, often upper-class, friends.[1]
Wardington Manor
Wardington Manor, 2015
In 2004, the Wardingtons' home at Wardington Manor near Banbury was seriously damaged following a suspected electrical fire.[6] Lord Wardington's book collection, however, including his unique collection of atlases, was saved through the efforts of their daughter Helen and local people. Lord Wardington died in 2005.[1]
One of them, the Doria Atlas, was sold to Bernard Shapero in October 2005 for £1.46 million, a new record price for an atlas.[7]
audrey, white, margaret, lady, wardington, november, 1927, november, 2014, headed, english, model, refused, announcer, case, powerful, looks, alarmed, timid, from, wigan, country, districts, later, career, fashion, journalism, before, concentrating, charity, w. Margaret Audrey White Lady Wardington 2 November 1927 8 November 2014 was a red headed English model who was refused a job as a BBC announcer in case her powerful looks alarmed timid men from Wigan and country districts 1 Later she had a career in fashion journalism before concentrating on charity work Audrey White Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Marriage and later life 4 Wardington Manor 5 Filmography 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditWhite was born in Bradford the only child of a commercial traveller who left the family when she was young She grew up in North London with her mother Eva They endured the Blitz during the Second World War together with their cat named Luftwaffe She took her school examinations at Henrietta Barnett School at the same time as German doodlebug attacks the girls sheltering under their desks if it seemed a hit was imminent 1 Career EditWhite s first job was as an assistant at an Elizabeth Arden salon in London s Bond Street Phyllis Digby Morton editor of Woman and Beauty asked White if she would be photographed for the magazine From there a career as a model developed 1 White appeared as a bride in posters for British National Savings had minor roles in several films and worked as an announcer on commercial radio In 1951 she was rejected for the position of a stand in BBC television announcer over fears that her appearance would overshadow the content causing the press to exclaim that she was Too beautiful for the BBC 1 2 In 1951 and 1952 White was the face of an advertising campaign for the washing powder Dreft and appeared endorsing the product across newspapers and magazines Advertising in Picture Post described her as a fashion model and T V girl and quoted White as saying I always find time to give my nylons and undies that all important nightly dip in Dreft 3 In September 1952 she appeared on BBC Radio s Light Programme in the series I Like My Job 4 In 1954 White met Marcus Morris managing editor of Housewife magazine at a party and was offered the job of fashion editor on the magazine After six years at Housewife she took the same role at Go magazine 1 Marriage and later life EditIn 1953 White married theatrical impresario farmer and former Brooklands racing driver Jack Dunfee 5 but the marriage failed In 1964 she married Christopher Henry Beaumont Pease 2nd Lord Wardington thus becoming Lady Wardington The couple adopted three children Lord Wardington was an enthusiastic book collector and together they attended many bibliographic events Lady Wardington devoted herself to charitable causes from Meals on Wheels to local campaigns She set up a course to teach women money management and wrote the Superhints books for charity from suggestions she canvassed from her many often upper class friends 1 Wardington Manor Edit Wardington Manor 2015 In 2004 the Wardingtons home at Wardington Manor near Banbury was seriously damaged following a suspected electrical fire 6 Lord Wardington s book collection however including his unique collection of atlases was saved through the efforts of their daughter Helen and local people Lord Wardington died in 2005 1 One of them the Doria Atlas was sold to Bernard Shapero in October 2005 for 1 46 million a new record price for an atlas 7 Filmography EditA Piece of Cake 1948 It Started in Paradise 1952 The Final Test 1953 Rheingold Theatre Four Farewells in Venice TV 1954 References Edit a b c d e f g Lady Wardington obituary The Telegraph 14 November 2014 Retrieved 16 November 2014 Girl With Too Much TV Oomph Is The Bride On The Posters Robert Cannell The Daily Express 30 January 1951 p 3 Advertising Picture Post 17 November 1951 Issue 7 p 49 Radio Today Daily Express 2 September 1952 p 4 The Poster Bride Weds Daily Mirror 20 July 1953 p 4 Rare atlases snatched from fire to be sold Will Bennett The Telegraph 31 May 2005 Retrieved 17 November 2014 Milmo Cahal 6 October 2006 Atlas favoured by Columbus goes on sale for 1 million Independent Retrieved 12 June 2016 External links Edithttp www thepeerage com p6854 htm Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Audrey White amp oldid 1091708703, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
