'Her legacy will be felt for generations' – tributes pour in for Dame Julie Kenny

“A WONDERFUL lady in every sense of the word.”

“A great woman who loved her family deeply.”

'AN ICON': Tributes have poured in for Dame Julie Kenny, DBE DL

placeholder image — 'AN ICON': Tributes have poured in for Dame Julie Kenny, DBE DL

“Much missed by so many. “

“An icon.”

'WONDERFUL LADY': Dame Julie Kenny with her husband Iain Hall and young family members

“A trusted advisor and passionate advocate.”

Tributes have been pouring in after the inquest concluded into the death of Dame Julie Kenny, DBE DL last week.

The inquest into the death of the mother of three, grandmother of eight, wife and step-mother who was “loved by everyone who knew her” was concluded on Thursday, June 11 at Doncaster Coroner's Court.

Since then tributes have poured in for Dame Julie who was a businesswomen, philanthropist, the champion of Wentworth Woodhouse and who was awarded a CBE in 2002 and made a Dame at Buckingham Palace in 2019.

Here are just a selection of comments from our readers online as well as some of the organisations she was associated with:

Carole Foster

“Just really sad to read, such a strong tenacious but wonderful lady that we all miss dearly.

“Let’s keep her legacy alive and support the things that she was so passionate about Wentworth Woodhouse, Grimm & Co and Sheffield Theatres.”

Polly Hamilton

“Oh gosh, how devastating. Julie was such a lovely person, pursuing such admirable causes.

“Much missed by so many.

“My heart goes out to her family, close friends and work colleagues.”

Joanelle Wood Mulrain

“I am enormously saddened to read this.

“She was an icon to her many fields in many professions, a great woman who loved her family deeply and a leader among friends.

“I had great respect for Julie and admiration for her dogged love and vision for Wentworth Woodhouse to realize the vision she and Sarah Farr McLeod have set forth for all of us to make sure it is realized.

“She is missed, and I am blessed to have known and admired her albeit for a short time.

“Her shadow remains long.

“What a wonderful woman, indeed.”

Donna Winfrow

“How sad – Julie was a lovely lady x”

Bernie Cranmer

“Julie was a wonderful lady in every sense of the word.

“She is truly missed by all who knew her.

“I had the pleasure of working for Julie for over 20 years

“My thoughts and love are with Laurence, Charlotte, Oliver and Ian.”

Chris Ayres

“A great woman, and lovely lady. Very sadly missed.”

Lorraine Bentley

“Thank you Julie for all you did.”

Elaine Barks

“Lovely lady – I am so sorry to hear of her passing in such tragic circumstances.”

Liz Keay

“An absolutely fabulous person!

“A privilege to work at WW and have known her.”

Linda Purvis

“So sad, she was an icon to all who worked at WW – everyone who ever met her loved her instantly!”

A spokesperson for Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust said: “Dame Julie Kenny was a truly remarkable woman whose generosity and passion inspired all those who had the privilege of knowing her.

“Throughout her life, the widely-respected local businesswoman threw her heart and soul into one of her greatest passions – the survival of Wentworth Woodhouse.

“Her unexpected passing in February 2025, at the age of 67, sent shockwaves throughout Yorkshire and beyond – and left the team at Wentworth Woodhouse heartbroken.

“She played a pivotal role in the fight to secure its purchase in 2017 and, as Chair of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust for eight years, her unwavering dedication has helped to kickstart a 20-year programme of regeneration for the house and gardens.

“Julie’s vision extended far beyond restoring the building – she dreamt of a place that would create opportunities for local people, through education, community engagement, job creation, and skills development.”

Carrie Sudbury, chief executive, Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce said: “We want to express our deepest thanks to Dame Julie Kenny for her extraordinary contribution to our heritage and to the future of Rotherham.

“The resurgence of Wentworth Woodhouse would not have been possible without her unwavering tenacity, her belief in what this place could become, and her deep love for Rotherham.

“At moments when others stepped away, Dame Julie stepped up, determined and with a laser beam focus which transformed not only our historic house, but the confidence of an entire borough.

“Her leadership has helped to safeguard one of the nation’s greatest heritage assets, unlocked new opportunities for culture, tourism and investment, and helped reframe how Rotherham is seen by the wider world.

“Quite simply, we would not be in the optimistic and ambitious position we are today without her.

“We owe a great deal to Dame Julie. Her legacy will be felt for generations.”

Chris Rea, managing director of AES Engineering Ltd, said: ”As a valued non-executive director at AES Engineering Ltd, Dame Julie was a trusted advisor and passionate advocate for the company’s long-term vision.

“She was an exceptional leader, an inspiration, and above all, a friend to so many.

“Her commitment to South Yorkshire, to business, and to the preservation of our shared heritage was truly remarkable.

“We are deeply grateful for the wisdom and guidance she shared with us over the years and have a dedicated memorial bench on our tree walk at our Rotherham headquarters in her memory.

“Her work and impact will not be forgotten.”