Inquest begins today over death of pioneering Wentworth Woodhouse champion Dame Julie Kenny
An inquest begins today over the sudden death of a beloved Doncaster businesswoman credited with “saving” Wentworth Woodhouse.
Dame Julie Kenny DBE DL died suddenly at the age of 67 in February 2025.
The mother of three, grandmother of nine and step-mother of three passed away after a short illness at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.
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 Wentworth Woodhouse in 2017, reversing it from years of decline into one of Rotherham’s crowning attractions.
Now, a three-day inquest will launch today at Doncaster Coroner’s Court.
To date, very little has been made public about what the inquest, directed by coroner Ms Nicola Mundy, seeks to answer about her sudden death on February 21, 2025.
However, a statement from her family published on Monday (February 23) claims: “The family has many unanswered questions around the care Dame Julie received when she fell ill with severe abdominal pain in February 2025.
“She initially attended A&E at Bassetlaw Hospital on February 8, 2025, but was quickly transferred the following day to Doncaster Royal Infirmary for treatment.
“The family hopes the inquest will fully investigate Dame Julie's care pathway, and apparent opportunities to diagnose and treat Dame Julie differently.”
Dame Julie was born in 1957 and grew up in Hillsborough and Stannington, Sheffield.
She co-founded the electronic security equipment company Pyronix, which she developed into an award-winning global business trading in 65 countries.
A trailblazer in the UK security industry, she became the first female Director of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) and was widely recognised as a pioneering businesswoman. In 1998, she also became the first female President of the Rotherham Chamber of Commerce.
Dame Julie often said that surviving a difficult childhood gave her the motivation to succeed. She grew up in an impoverished, chaotic household in Hillsborough and Stannington, Sheffield. By the age of 10 she was caring for her baby brother and responsible for cooking and cleaning, but always prioritising homework and school.
Her success as a self-made entrepreneur, and numerous accolades and honorary roles, including Master Cutler in 2023, made her an inspirational figure across every sector she touched.