A motorcycling governess to the stars, who received an MBE after resurrecting a ruined Anglican church in Corfu, has died aged 101.

Margaret Woodley, who was living in Linwood Care Home in Thames Ditton, suffered a stroke and died at Kingston Hospital on June 4.

Her nephew Peter said: “She was just a good person who devoted herself to anyone else really.”

She was born on March 8, 1912 in Perim, an island in the Red Sea, which had no drinking water but what was ferried in.

She had one brother, and had to move from the island because of poor living conditions. She never married, but was very close to her nephew.

She later became a Norland nanny and worked with the family behind Bentley Motors.

Peter said: “She looked after the Bentley twins. The mother was very busy helping run the business and Margaret used to go off with them on holiday to Monaco. She had a wonderful sort of life as a nanny.”

Margaret became the head matron at Cranbourne Chase School in Dorset.

Peter said: “We still get phone calls from some of the pupils who were there, asking how she is. She was a very much loved person by everybody she came into contact with.”

After retiring, she moved to Corfu, where she owned a house, owing to her father’s Greek heritage.

She discovered a ruined Anglican church there, which she managed to revive by inspiring the locals to donate money.

She was awarded an MBE by the Queen for her services to the Anglican Church in Corfu in February 1999.

Among her hobbies were dress making, motorcycling, and upholstery. Peter said she also loved cats, and adopted many while living in Corfu.

He added: “She was a very beautiful young lady. She always liked things slightly unusual. She had everything from a motorbike to a three-wheeled car.”

He added: “She did things for others. Her hobby was looking after people.”

She leaves behind her nephew Peter and his wife, Wendy.