A passionate supporter and patron of a Kent hospice charity well-loved for her "devilish sense of humour" has died.

Marianna, Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley died peacefully at her home in Runham Lane, Harrietsham, on July 5 aged 93.

Lady Monckton had been a passionate supporter of the Heart of Kent Hospice ever since joining the initial appeal to raise funds to build the hospice in Aylesford back in 1987.

She continued to campaign for more than three decades, hosting events and raising money, and serving in the position of patron to the charity.

Rachel Street, chief executive of the Heart of Kent Hospice, said: "Lady Monckton was a woman driven by duty and loyalty to the causes she supported.

"She was immensely funny and engaging, full of passion and compassion. She was utterly dedicated to the hospice and cared deeply that it prospered.”

Lady Monckton visited the hospice every Christmas to hand out home-baked mince pies and she was a frequent visitor at other times throughout the year when she would find time to chat to both patients and staff.

Mrs Street said: "There are so many happy memories from her time as our patron: from planning our official opening in 1992 in which she was successful in inviting Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales to visit to officially open the hospice, to attending the annual Lady Monckton Awards to pay tribute to our colleagues and volunteers for their long service and loyalty to the hospice."

She said: “She was known for her devilish sense of humour and, often at the end of the Lady Monckton Awards, instead of giving a speech, she was just as likely to read out a whimsical or ridiculous poem sending everyone present into fits of laughter.”

Lady Monckton, an acknowledged raconteur, would relate stories of her husband’s father, Sir Walter Monckton, who was an adviser to Sir Winston Churchill and friend and legal advisor to Edward VIII during the time of the king's abdication.

Jim Barker-McCardle, a former chairman of trustees at the hospice, also paid tribute.

He said: "Lady Monckton was a plain-speaking woman with a warm heart, who cared deeply for the hospice.

"She did so much to raise the profile of the hospice and to raise the funds to provide compassionate care to all those with a terminal illness. Our thoughts are with her family at this sad time.”

Lady Monckton was the High Sheriff of Kent in 1981.

She was also the president of Kent St John's Ambulance between 1972 and 1980, and she served on the board of both the Council of Royal Overseas League, championing international goodwill, and on SSAFA, the Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen’s Families' Association.

She was made a Dame of Malta for her charitable work.

In 2011, Lady Monckton recalled how she "used my father's best naval language" at bailiffs who had been sent on behalf of a water company which claimed she owed them £1,500.

Her husband was the 2nd Viscount of Brenchley, Major General Gilbert Monckton, who was 14 years her senior. He had a distinguished war career, winning the Military Cross. He died in 2006.

The couple had five children: Christopher, the 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley; Rosamond (Rosa) – who is married to the journalist Dominic Lawson – Timothy, Jonathan and Anthony.