I was privileged to count Ann among my closest and dearest friends for more than thirty years. The violent circumstances of her death are almost impossible to comprehend, but the horror of the manner in which she died must never be allowed to obscure the extraordinary life she lived.
Ann devoted herself to public service with courage, integrity and an unshakeable sense of duty. She possessed a profound instinct for fairness and was never afraid to stand alone when conscience required it. Whether or not one agreed with her, nobody could doubt the honesty of her convictions or the formidable bravery with which she defended them.
At the heart of Ann’s life was her Catholic faith. It was not merely something she professed, still less something she confined to Sundays, but the foundation upon which she ordered her life. It gave her moral courage, resilience, compassion and an unwavering belief in the dignity of every human being.
Ann rendered an exceptional service to the Church by demonstrating that faith need not be hidden or apologised for in public life. At a time when many regarded religious conviction as something best kept private, she spoke plainly and fearlessly as a Catholic. She defended the sanctity of life, opposed assisted suicide and remained steadfast in her defence of conscience and Catholic teaching, even when doing so brought criticism or personal hostility. She did not alter her beliefs to accommodate the fashions of the age; she accepted the cost of fidelity with characteristic courage and good humour.
Her concern extended far beyond the political with which she was most readily associated. She was a tireless advocate for Christians suffering persecution around the world and a longstanding supporter of Aid to the Church in Need, speaking at churches across the country and urging others to bring the plight of persecuted Christians to the attention of Parliament, government and the media. She also supported the work of the Society of St Vincent de Paul and other Catholic causes concerned with poverty, loneliness and human dignity. She did much to support leprosy missions and animal welfare organisations in the Holy Land, including its donkeys for which she held special affection.
Yet for all the prominence of her public witness, Ann’s faith was also intensely personal and practical. For our family she was never simply a distinguished politician or public figure. She shared Christmases, Easters and family occasions with us and as with many of her friends she became woven into the fabric of our families. She was a godmother many times over including my son, a responsibility she embraced with characteristic seriousness, love and fidelity. It was a vocation she undertook with huge pleasure: a beautiful expression of her desire not merely to defend the faith in public, but to help pass it faithfully and lovingly to the next generation.
Behind the formidable public figure was a woman of enormous kindness, loyalty, humour and personal generosity. I shall remember her not only as a remarkable politician and public servant, but as a courageous witness to the Catholic faith, a steadfast friend and a cherished member of our family circle. British public life is immeasurably poorer without her, and very many people will miss her more than words can adequately express.