On This Day in Wembury — 21 April 1940
The Express and Echo later reported the death of the Hon. Mrs. R. M. Sebag-Montefiore at Southampton. A widow with deep ties to Wembury, she had purchased Wembury House in 1923 and became a major benefactor locally and nationally. While living at Wembury she gave £8,000 to endow the Readership in Geography at the University College of the South-West, and later a further £5,000 to rebuild domestic areas of Hope Hall in Exeter, where she opened the new wing in 1939.
Reflection: Mrs. Sebag-Montefiore left a lasting mark on Wembury and beyond. Her restoration of Wembury House, her Model Dairy, and her gift of coastal land to the National Trust all reflected a vision of stewardship that combined hospitality, modernity, and conservation. Her educational philanthropy further tied Wembury to the wider story of Exeter University’s development. Her life is a reminder of how individual choices of generosity can ripple through generations, shaping both landscapes and institutions.
Source: Express and Echo, 26 April 1940