Tributes paid to Dame Julie Kenny, ‘saviour of Wentworth Woodhouse’
Dame Julie Kenny, a prominent Yorkshire businesswomen and champion of Wentworth Woodhouse, has died suddenly at the age of 67.
She died after a short illness on Friday 21 February 21 at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.
In 1986 she founded Pyronix, in Rotherham, a manufacturer of electronic security equipment, which she grew into a multi-award-winning global business.
She was a government-appointed commissioner to Rotherham Borough Council from 2015-18 after the town was rocked by a child sexual exploitation scandal, and was made a Freewoman of Rotherham in 2020.
Dame Julie spearheaded the rescue of Wentworth Woodhouse, Rotherham’s Grade I Listed country house, which she described as “one of the most inspiring, yet hardest, challenges of my life.”
She was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2019 in recognition of her five-year campaign with SAVE Britain’s Heritage to buy the house in 2017 and her ongoing leadership of Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust.
Tim Cooke, deputy chairman of the trust, said: “Dame Julie Kenny and Wentworth Woodhouse became synonymous with one another. Her personal impact on the house has been enormous.
“Julie chaired the board of trustees and committed her time and numerous talents on a daily basis. It would be nowhere near its current status without her.
Dame Julie Kenny with husband Iain Hall and grandchildren
“Everyone involved – employees, volunteers, trustees and patrons – will feel her loss very keenly.”
Dame Julie grew up in an impoverished household in Hillsborough and Stannington, Sheffield.
She left at 18 to become a legal secretary in Cornwall. She was swiftly offered legal training and went on to a successful career as a litigation lawyer.
She launched Pyronix with her first husband, but their marriage ended and Dame Julie continued to lead the growing business as a single mother of three, supported by two nannies.
She won trade in 65 countries then sold Pyronix in 2016, by which time its turnover had reached £25m.
Rotherham MP and Defence Secretary John Healey, said: “Julie was a truly remarkable woman who was proud of her roots and wanted to make life better for others.
“I first met her when I visited her Pyronix factory. She knew all her staff and they adored her.
“Over three decades, Julie took on a list of public life roles as long as your arm – at local, regional and national levels. She took on challenges others would shy away from, with a commitment that was always total.
“She became President of the Rotherham Chamber of Commerce to rescue it from the brink of bankruptcy and rebuild it into one of the country’s leading chambers.
“She became Trust director of Doncaster Children’s Services when the Government took it out of the council’s hands and in 2010 became Chair of Yorkshire Forward to wind it up after a change in government.
“She brought brilliant business insight, plain common sense and a warm personal touch to every organisation, and she inspired those she worked with to achieve more.
“Julie’s sudden untimely death leaves a massive gap in the lives of so many of us who knew her and public life is now so much poorer without her.”
Dame Julie was a mother of three, grandmother of eight, wife to Iain and step-mother to his three children. A private family funeral will be held for her.
To enable people to share their memories, her children Oliver, Laurence and Charlotte, husband Iain Hall and his children will be opening an online book of condolence and organising a public service to celebrate her life and achievements.
