I'm so envious that you knew Lady Chomondeley! As an architecture buff, I have read of the wonderful restorations she undertook at Houghton Hall. The January 2003 issue of Architectural Digest states:

On her 90th birthday the queen and royal family joined the celebrations. That night the Houghton silver was out and gleaming, tables were set up in the Stone Hall, dinner was served from the Marble Parlour, a jazz band played in the Saloon, and fireworks lit the wide Norfolk sky.

"She knew everyone, and they all adored her," says her grandson, David Cholmondeley.

David is the 7th Marquess and currently serves as Lord Great Chamberlain. His grandfather the 5th Marquess also held that office and had prominent roles in both the 1937 and 1953 Coronations.

CMM, do you know why Lady Cholmondeley wore sunglasses to the Coronation?