Tributes to Prior’s Court Founding Patron, Dame Stephanie Shirley, Who Has Died Aged 91

Tributes to Prior’s Court founding patron, Dame Stephanie Shirley, who has died aged 91

For many in Newbury and across the country, the entrepreneur and philanthropist Dame Stephanie Shirley, who has died aged 91, was an inspiration.

Dame Stephanie 'Steve' Shirley, technology pioneer, dies aged 91

She founded the software company Freelance Programmers in 1962, which almost exclusively hired women, and in later life donated almost £70m of her fortune.

Obituary: Dame Stephanie ‘Steve’ Shirley, Founder, Entrepreneur And Philanthropist - Cybernoz - Cybersecurity News

The technology sector lost a great on 11 August 2025, with the passing of Dame Stephanie Shirley at the age of 91. More affectionately known as Steve, Shirley was a serial founder, entrepreneur and philanthropist who was part of the technology sector for over half a century. Originally from Germany, aged five, Shirley – who at the time was named Vera Buchthal – was one of the thousands of children who came to the UK on The Kindertransport before…

Obituary: Dame Stephanie Shirley, female tech pioneer & philanthropist

Tech pioneer Dame Stephanie Shirley has died aged 91. Dame Stephanie’s family shared the news in an Instagram post on Monday. She passed away on Saturday. The entrepreneur and philanthropist (pictured in 2013) blazed a trail for women in technology and raised tens of millions for causes including autism after her only child, Giles, suffered from an extreme form of the condition. Born Vera Buchthal in Dortmund in 1933 – where her Jewish father se…