Anne Balfour-Fraser

Anne Balfour was born in Woking, Surrey, on 10th August 1923 to army officer Bill and his wife Ruth, her great uncle being former British prime minister Arthur Balfour. Originally trained as an opera singer she turned to film making in the 1950s, starting with musical themes and formed the production company Inca to make a series of acclaimed short films. Later, with a new company Samaritan Films, she produced - throughout the 1960s and 1970s - full length documentaries on social and humanitarian subjects as well as a well-received series of films on the lives of the great painters. Away from the camera she was a passionate supporter and fund raiser for the Anti-Slavery Society. In 1947 she married Sir David Fraser and whilst the marriage only lasted for five years they remained good friends until his death in 2012. Lady Balfour-Fraser died on 26th July 2016, leaving a daughter, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren