Susana, Lady Walton
Susana, Lady Walton MBE | |
---|---|
Born | 30 August 1926 Buenos Aires, Argentina |
Died | 21 March 2010 (aged 83) Ischia, Italy |
Nationality | Argentinian and British |
Occupation(s) | writer and garden creator |
Known for | creating the gardens La Mortella in Ischia and being the wife of composer William Walton |
Spouse | William Walton (m. 1948–1983; his death) |
Susana, Lady Walton MBE (30 August 1926 – 21 March 2010), born Susana Valeria Rosa Maria Gil Passo,[1] was the Argentinian wife of the British composer Sir William Walton (1902–1983). She was a writer and the creator of the gardens of La Mortella on the island of Ischia, Italy.[2]
Born in Buenos Aires in 1926, Lady Walton was the daughter of a prominent Argentinian lawyer, Dr Enrique Gil.[3] She was educated at a college run by Spanish nuns where she took a diploma in accountancy followed by a degree as a public translator in English.[4] She was working at the British Council in Buenos Aires when she met Walton in October 1948.[5] They married two months later in December 1948. The couple settled on the Italian island of Ischia where she created the gardens of La Mortella.[6] The residence hosted many celebrities, including Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, Hans Werner Henze, W. H. Auden, Terence Rattigan, Binkie Beaumont, Maria Callas and Charlie Chaplin.[7] William Walton died at La Mortella on 8 March 1983.
Lady Walton appeared alongside her husband in his only acting role; King
Shortly after her marriage she had an abortion at Walton's insistence, as he did not want any children.[9] She wrote two books and founded the William Walton Foundation in 1983. In 2002, Prince Charles visited La Mortella Garden and Lady Walton.[10]
Lady Walton was awarded an honorary degree from the
She died on 21 March 2010, aged 83, from natural causes.
Books
- Walton, Susana. William Walton: Behind the Façade, Oxford University Press (1988).
- Walton, Susana. La Mortella: An Italian Garden Paradise, New Holland Publishers (2002).
References
- ISBN 0-19-282635-2.
- ^ "Giardini La Mortella". 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ISBN 0-19-282635-2.
- ^ "Lady Walton: Obituary". The Telegraph. 2010-03-23. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
- ISBN 0-19-282635-2.
- ^ Paolo Petrocelli (2008-07-18). "Interview: Composer Sir William Walton, as Remembered by his Wife, Lady Susana Walton". Culturekiosque. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ISBN 0-19-282635-2.
- ISBN 0-19-282635-2.
- ^ John Amis (2010-03-24). "Obituary: Susana Walton". The Guardian, London. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
- ^ https://www.ischiareview.com/famous-people-who-have-visited-ischia.html
- ^ "No. 55710". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 31 December 1999. p. 36.