Tributes to Lady Joy Hastings following death at age of 90

Lady Joy Hastings, the widow of the late hotelier Sir Billy Hastings, has died at the age of 90.

Breaking the news on social media, her daughter Julie wrote: “It’s a very sad day for our family. My mum, the matriarch of Hastings Hotels, passed away peacefully at home.

“She had just turned 90 and last weekend enjoyed a wonderful afternoon tea party at her home surrounded by her friends and family.”

Lady Joy, a teacher by training who once taught George Best, was a constant presence as her husband’s side as he built his hotel empire during the worst of the Troubles.

Her four children, Howard, Julie, Allyson and Aileen,  continued to work in the family business following Sir Billy’s death in December 2017, and she remained a director of the business until June last year.

Julie added:  “Now her party is over and her next heavenly party will hopefully be with my dad, Sir Billy Hastings.

“Mum will be sorely missed by us all and especially by the Hastings Hotels “family” of staff and customers, who knew her coming into the hotels with dad for nearly 60 years.

“Goodbye, mum. Go to dad and together look down on us and keep us right as you always did.”

An obituary from the  Hastings Hotels Group read: “Kathleen Joyce Hastings has died at her home near Killyleagh aged 90.

“Born in 1932 she was the youngest and last surviving daughter of Kathleen and James Hamilton, growing up in south Belfast.

“Fondly known as Joy, she attended school at Victoria College and became head girl.

“She graduated with a BA from Queen’s University Belfast and subsequently became a teacher at Lisnasharragh High School in 1959.

“Her most famous pupil was George Best.

“After 43 years at the helm of Hastings Hotels, Billy was awarded a knighthood, and Joy was proud to become Lady Hastings in 2009. They were married for 57 years before Billy passed away in 2017.

“Joy died on May 31 leaving Julie, Howard, Allyson and Aileen, nine grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.”