A PENSIONER who travelled the globe dressing Hollywood stars has died, aged 76.

Penny McVitie passed away at Katharine House Hospice, Adderbury, near Banbury, on March 22, after an eight month battle with cancer.

Before Miss McVitie, of Cropredy, near Banbury, retired she had worked at some of the country’s most famous theatres, including at Stratford-upon-Avon and the Royal Opera House designing costumes for a string of A-list celebrities.

During her 40-year career she dressed a host of top Hollywood names including Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett, Keanu Reeves, Gerard Depardieu, Helena Bonham Carter, Kevin Spacey, Val Kilmer and Laurence Fishburne.

Miss McVitie also worked with directors such as Ridley Scott and Sir Trevor Nunn, and on movies including Bond film Never Say Never Again, as well as a string of stage and opera productions.

She retired about 12 years ago and moved from Putney, London, to Cropredy.

In tribute, friend Dick Hughes, of Cropredy, said: “She was independent, she was feisty, she was noisy and she was cultured.

“I talked to her in recent weeks and she told me when she retired from London to Cropredy 12 years ago she thought it would be a cottage, a cat and television.

“In fact, she had a ball and made lots of new friends. It was a great delight and surprise to her and she said she had never been happier apart from this (cancer).”

Before she passed away she donated her collection of more than 600 books to Mr Hughes to sell to raise cash for the charity Samaritans.

Over three days, from Friday, April 8, to Sunday, April 10, the eclectic mix of books will be sold.

The book sale takes place at Cropredy Studio, at the rear of Crystal Cottage, 8 Station Road, Cropredy, daily between 10am and 5pm.

For more information please call 01295 750939.