Lady Akers-Jones, girl guides' stalwart, loses battle with cancer

Lady Jane Akers-Jones, the wife of former chief secretary Sir David Akers-Jones and an influential figure in the Hong Kong Girl Guides movement for the past 20 years, has died aged 74.

Lady Akers-Jones, a vice-president of the Hong Kong Girl Guides Association, died on Sunday in Queen Mary Hospital after a two-year battle with cancer. A funeral service will be held at St John's Cathedral on Friday.

Sir David, her husband for 51 years, said yesterday they had worked as a team, with his wife playing the dual role of hostess and secretary.

He said his wife had not been a noisy person but very much loved her life, which had included music and dancing. 'She had also liked trekking as well as travelling around the world with me,' he said.

Sir David said they had planned to spend more time with their daughter, Bryony, and grand-daughters, Amelia-Jane and Susanna Ruth, in Australia, having lived in Hong Kong for 45 years.

Lady Akers-Jones, who was an actress when she met her husband at Oxford University, was chief commissioner of the Hong Kong Girl Guides Association between 1983 and 1993.