In addition to the WVS, she also established Women's Home Industries, a highly successful exponent of British craft and cultural traditions in clothing and textiles, and also a prolific exporter to the United States and Canada.

[1] While she would later describe herself as "brung up", because of her lack of formal education, she combined learning from the local Church of England chaplain with the tutelage of a governess at home.

[3] The Observer profile told her First War history somewhat differently, saying that she joined the Voluntary Aid Detachment – then a volunteer nursing group directed by the Red Cross – but was demoted to pantry maid because of her tendency to faint at the sight of blood.

[2] In 1932 she became chair of the Personal Service League, a voluntary organization concerned with helping ameliorate poverty during the Great Depression.

He also impressed upon her the value of the relationship between the United States and the UK – Lord Reading was a former Ambassador to the US – suggesting that the future of democracy might depend upon a better understanding of the Americans by the British.

There she travelled by car across the country, staying in dollar-a-night lodgings and working as a dish-washer in order to understand "ordinary" Americans.

"[1] She returned to Washington D.C. and would remain a close friend thereafter of Eleanor Roosevelt – the two shared an interest in alleviating poverty and wrote to each other fortnightly for years after her trip.

[1][4] Even before her husband's death Lady Reading had become active in voluntary social work, chairing the Personal Service League, created to serve the needy and unemployed.

[2] Duties were wide-ranging, from providing support to the armed services and to refugees, to the evacuation of children, pregnant women and other vulnerable people from cities at risk of bombing.

[5] As the war progressed, the WVS, funded by the government and local authorities, fed, clothed and re-housed civilians affected by air raids.

[2] The WVS continued in peacetime; in the immediate post-war period it assisted with the problems caused by shortages of food, fuel and housing.

[1] After the war had ended, Lady Reading became involved in another venture designed to assist the nation and engage women's efforts.

[3][6] Initially, the WVS collected samples from its membership – including tapestry, embroidery, quilting and hand knitting – and the response inspired a start-up business supported by the Board of Trade.

[7] It remained a highly successful exporter of professionally finished clothing and crafts – notably to the United States – as well as supplying couture houses, with most suppliers being home-based women.

Her husband was a Liberal cabinet minister and imperial diplomat, widely regarded and highly respected, but as now she could pursue her own duties.

[12] She chaired the Home Office's Advisory Council (1962–5) that played a leading role in facilitating the "Windrush" migration to Britain from the Commonwealth.

[2][3] She chaired the Home Office Advisory Council on Commonwealth Immigration and led a working party on the after-care of prisoners released from jail.