Chairman of the Bloomsbury Association, Jim Murray, said Irene was respected for her “feisty” attitude and extensive knowledge of post-war Bloomsbury.

So strong was her relationship with George that when he died in 1995 Irene found it hard to cope. Knowing her mother’s insatiable thirst for knowledge, Liz enrolled her on a course at the City Literary Institute, which became her “lifeline”.

In her 90th year she won adult education “student of the year” and took a trip back to Dresden – her first return since it was firebombed in the war.

In her old age she suffered from dementia and had to leave her beloved Bloomsbury to move into a care home in Sheffield where her daughter and grandchildren could look after her.

Irene died in her sleep last Thursday.

She is survived by Liz, her grandchildren Ben and Harriet and a great-grand-daughter, Zoe.

Her funeral will be held on Friday, February 26 in the East Chapel of Golders Green Crematorium at 12.30pm.