Alexandra Helen Casserley

Alexandra Helen (Mennell) Casserley, of Shenandoah Junction, died on March 20, 2023 following a courageous battle against cancer.

Born on April 12, 1959, she was the beloved wife of Nigel, stepmother to Alexandra, sister to Lindsay, Simon and Jonathan, and “Alliegram” to Beatrice and Serafina. Her joy and light are loved and missed by many friends and family.

At six minutes to three on the morning of Oct. 11, 1984, an IRA bomb — intended to kill the Prime Minister with as many members of the British cabinet as possible — was detonated in the Grand Hotel, Brighton, UK. The Rt. Hon. Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of Great Britain, was still working on her speech for the next day and had just left the room but five people were killed and another thirty-one injured. The survivors gathered outside the burning building in just their night clothes. It was Alexandra Casserley (then Mennell), together with the four other Conservative Party secretaries headed by Dame Shirley Oxenbury, who were instrumental in convincing the local Marks and Spencer shop to open to provide clothes so that, as the Prime Minister insisted, the conference could go ahead on time.

Alexandra, also called Allie, was born in Madrid, Spain to Peter Mennell C.M.G. M.B.E. and Prudence H. Mennell (nee Vansittart), and was the youngest of four children. They grew up internationally and benefitted from the experiences provided by their father’s diplomatic work in the British Foreign Service in Spain, the former Soviet Union, Republic of Congo, British Consulate General Ohio, USA, British Ambassador to Ecuador, and UK High Commissioner to the Bahamas. As the only sensible option at the time, Allie attended boarding school at Maltman’s Green and St. Michael’s Burton Park in the UK. Allie was one of those rare, vibrant people whose smile lit up a room and who made everyone she met feel better, and she retained many wonderful friends from these schools.

Allie studied French politics, literature and law at L’Institut Francais du Royaume-Uni and became a bilingual PA. She spent some time working in Zimbabwe, before working for the Conservative Party Central Office under the watchful eye of Dame Shirley Oxenbury, who remains a loyal friend. Allie was personal assistant to five chairmen of the Conservative Party. from 1982-1989. She moved from the Conservative Party Central Office to the Arts Council of Great Britain in 1989, working for its chairman, The Lord Palumbo of Walbrook, an experience which suited her passion for painting and music.

Allie met her future husband, Nigel E. Casserley, in the summer of 1990. Nigel had a successful career as founder of the sound communications company, National Equestrian Communications, and was an announcer whose voice, with its distinguished English accent, was well known at equestrian events across the United States. A quarter American and a descendant of George Walton, signer of the Declaration of Independence, Allie moved to the United States in 1996 to join Nigel, where they were an essential part of American equestrian events, including the 1996 Olympics, the International Driving and Dressage World Cups and the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. They were usually accompanied by their lively lurchers, and always helped by Allie’s calm demeanor, her radiant smile and charm.

Nigel and Allie were married in Shepherdstown, West Virginia on March 19, 2005 surrounded by family and friends. She obtained US Citizenship in 2019. Upon Nigel’s retirement, Allie worked at the German Street Coffee and Candlery Shop in Shepherdstown, where she was a much loved member of the local community.

In 2021, Allie had a minor stroke from which she made a full recovery, but sadly this proved to be a precursor to stage 4 cancer. Allie was lucky enough to be symptom and pain free for 18 months with the help of a gene therapy drug, but eventually the harsh reality of chemotherapy was more than her body could manage. Allie remained positive, brave and philosophical to the end, more concerned about others than herself.

Allie is survived by her husband, stepdaughter, two granddaughters, three siblings, nine nieces and nephews and twenty great nieces and nephews. There is no doubt that she was a much cherished wife, grandmother, aunt, friend and confidante, who will leave a huge gap in many lives.

Arrangements to be announced later.