TRIBUTES and condolences have poured in for the Honourable Laura Ponsonby – a pillar of both Haslemere and Lynchmere communities, who has died aged 80.

A trained musician, a leading plantswoman, an expert historian and above all a great communicator, it was Laura’s idea to open Shulbrede Priory – her family home – to the public in 1980 so she could share its fascinating history.

The medieval monastic house has been home to the Ponsonby family since 1902, and visitors enjoyed her entertaining and informative talks on Shulbrede’s connections to war hero Major General Sir Frederick Ponsonby, who famously survived his injuries on the battlefield at Waterloo, and composer Sir Hubert Parry, who wrote Jerusalem, during its twice-yearly openings.

Educated at Langford Grove School, in Sussex, she was a graduate of Guildhall School of Music and Drama and was a guide lecturer and education officer at Kew’s Royal Botanic Gardens from 1965-1994.

She never married but was awarded the prestigious Kew Medal for her “outstanding work” on behalf of the centre. She made a special study of celebrated Victorian plantswoman and botanical artist Marianne North and wrote a book about her connection with Kew Gardens, in 1990.

Laura is best known to many for her long connection with Haslemere Natural History Society, which she joined in 1969. She took an active role straight away, leading two or three field meetings each year, giving winter talks and occasionally conducting a half-day study course.

She was elected to the committee in 1977, served as president from 1982- 92, and continued to be the society’s vice-president until she died on January 6, following a short illness. Her love of plants, nurtured in her childhood, was wide-ranging, from mosses and liverworts, to flowering plants and trees, both in the UK and abroad.

In 1978, she wrote the society’s ‘List of Flowering Plants and Ferns of the Haslemere District’, which updated its 1962 publication, adding more than 100 records.

Haslemere Natural History Society secretary and friend Judith Kusel said: “Laura was concerned about local conservation issues and co-ordinated the society’s response when organisations such as Waverley Borough Council, the National Trust, West Sussex County Council or the Lynchmere Society asked for local expertise through botanical surveys of a given area.

“She first wrote the botanical chapter of the society’s annual report in 1971 and continued every year, most recently planning her contribution for 2015. Members of the society will miss Laura with her extensive knowledge and enthusiasm which she shared so generously over so many years and her natural talent for communicating the pleasures of the plant world.”

Haslemere Museum curator Julia Tanner also paid tribute to a vital pillar of the organisation.

She said: “Laura had been involved with the museum for many decades,”

“She served over 50 years as honorary botanist and until a few years ago she did the flower table in the museum every week. She was always a great supporter of the museum and she will be sorely missed by everyone.”

Good friend Michael Tibbs, life president of the Lynchmere Society, will give an address at Laura’s funeral service, at St Peter’s Church, Lynchmere tomorrow (Saturday), at 2pm, which will also celebrate her close association as trustee with the group he formed in 1996.

“Laura’s death is a huge loss,” the group’s chairman Judy Rous said.

“She was not only a botanist of international renown but a very good musician and she had a wide knowledge of history. She lived in Lynchmere all her life.”

Laura’s brother-in-law Ian Russell said: “We have received hundreds of cards and letters of condolence. The number of people attending the funeral may be overwhelming.

“Laura was so good at interesting people in the history of Shulbrede and putting up exhibitions. She was also very good at improvising on the piano, playing her own Shulbrede Medley.

“She not only wrote about Marianne North, she also followed in her footsteps, travelling abroad every February for about there weeks and staying in a palace one day and a mud hut the next.”

*Donations, in aid of Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and Haslemere Museum can be left c/o M Luff & Partners Ltd, 84 Lion Lane, Haslemere GU27 1JH.