Patricia Evelyn Beverley Matthews Harmsworth

Career

As Beverly Brooks, she appeared in several films, such as Reach for the Sky (1956). She was only 18, when she met Captain Christopher Brooks (of the Coldstream Guards), while she was attending a motor-racing event at Goodwood. A baby girl, "Sarah" soon followed.

Then she enrolled at the Rank Charm School to become a starlet.

This led to her getting a part in "Reach for the Sky". When she was 23, she met Vere Harmsworth (aged 32), at a party.

She then gave birth to Geraldine, born in 1957, and Camilla, in 1964. Then Vere"s father, Esmond, remarried and produced a son, also called Esmond.

So Patricia researched the methods of a Doctor August Von Borosini in influencing the sex of her baby.

Then, in December 1967, she gave birth to a son, Jonathan Harmsworth. As Lady Rothermere, she led a colourful social life, earning her the nickname of "Bubbles", through a love of champagne and her spherical figure. She died from a heart attack in Nice, France aged 59.

This was brought on by an accidental overdose of sleeping pills.

Achievements

• In 1997, Jonathan Harmsworth, set up the "The Patricia Rothermere Award" (in honour of his mother), this was a two-part award. The first part went to Dame Judi Dench in recognition of her services to theatre. The second part of the award was given to promising drama students of that year. In 1997, that went to Mark Rice-Oxley. The award was presented at the Evening Standard Awards show. Later called the "Lady Rothermere Drama Award".