Rare items and treasures from the life of former Lord Speaker of the House of Commons, Baroness Betty Boothroyd, will be auctioned in Teddington next week.

Around 40 historic artefacts from the Baroness's life will go under the hammer, including a letter and gift from the former President of Russia Boris Yeltsin, at the auction on Saturday 26 April.

Auctioneers Hansons London will sell the collection from their office in Teddington's Normansfield Theatre, though due to Covid restrictions the auction will take place virtually.

Baroness Boothroyd, 91, was Lord Speaker from 1992 to 2000 and is the only woman ever to have been elected to the role. She was born in Yorkshire and elected as a Labour Party MP for West Bromwich in 1973.

She is auctioning the items as she prepares to move from her London apartment to a country cottage in South Cambridgeshire.

She said: "I've cherished every single thing but I have to let go.

"I have loved everything. They're a reminder of a colourful life. But I am downsizing.

"It's an awful thing but that's the way it is, and there's no alternative."

She added: "It's taken me a long time to go through everything. I am parting with lovely things I've collected over the years, or which were given to me as gifts during my public life.

"These little mementos, some bought during my travels to colourful countries like Cuba, mean so much. They're my life story."

Treasures due to go under the hammer next week include an ornamental Russian box given to the Baroness by Boris Yeltsin, the first President of Russia; a limited-edition ceramic figure of Lawrence of Arabia and a ship's flat-bottomed decanter and glasses presented to her by the British Navy in St Petersburg, Russia.

The full catalogue of items from the Betty Boothroyd collection that are due to go on sale will be published HERE .

Chris Kirkham, associate director of Hansons London, said: "It's been an absolute pleasure to meet Baroness Boothroyd and catalogue her items.

"This is an extraordinary opportunity to buy something owned by one of the most impressive women British politics has ever known.

"She brought order to the House of Commons. Now she's decided it's time to bring more order to her life by downsizing.

"For anyone who's admired her down-to-earth demeanor, remarkable achievements and ability to rise to the top in the male-dominated world of British politics, here's a unique chance to own a part of her life story."

He paid tribute to the Baroness, who has met royalty and major political leaders in her lifetime and also received an Order of Merit, a rare honour given at the Queen's discretion.

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