Sylvia, Lady Ashley (born Edith Louisa Hawkes, 1 April 1904 – 29 June 1977) was an English model, actress, and socialite[1] who was best known for her numerous marriages to British and Georgian noblemen and American movie stars.
Her father was a livery stable employee, latterly porter in a block of flats and doorman at a restaurant.
Ashley's sister, Lilian Vera Hawkes married British film producer Basil Bleck on 18 December 1929.
In the 1920s, Ashley regularly appeared on stage with American writer Dorothy Fields in the comedy duo "Silly and Dotty" in "Midnight Follies" at the London Metropole.
On 1 March 1941, Lady Ashley filed articles of incorporation to establish an organisation known as the British Distressed Areas Fund.
Organised along with her sister, Vera Bleck, Constance Bennett, and Virginia Fox Zanuck, as directors, the Fund focused on soliciting financial support to provide food, clothing and medical aid for refugees of World War II.
As the anthem came to the normal stopping point, George started to sit down, but there is more, much more of the fine old choral than is generally known.