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Friends and relatives have paid tribute to the “sparkling personality” of leading fashion writer Marie Scott, whose life was cut short after she was struck by a moped in Holloway last month.

Ms Scott, aged 75 but still “at the top of her game”, collided with the scooter as she got off a bus in front of Holloway Prison, a stone’s throw from her home in Beacon Hill, on May 7.

“She was blessed with a sparkling personality, she was always the life and soul of the party,” said Dorothy Cumpsty, a friend of 40 years, at Ms Scott’s funeral in west London on Wednesday.

“Marie was taken from us so quickly that the shock has been immense. But we would all agree that her essence has been her vitality, and the support she gave people. She dies happily and without knowledge of her sudden departure.”

Ms Scott had just got off the night bus after a night out with friends in her beloved Soho when the collision occurred. She had attended a Curzon cinema event before popping into The French House, where she was a regular. She then went on to Gerry’s, the private members club in Dean Street, after which she walked to the night bus with a friend just after 1am. Despite her age, she would be out in the West End several times a week and always took the bus home.

“She was absolutely a London girl who would never tire of the city she lived in,” Ms Cumpsty added. “She loved the cultural aspects and, of course, Soho, where she would hang out at Gerry’s and meet like-minded friends.”

Fellow fashion journalist and friend Janet Prescott, who first met Ms Scott during the “days of colour and optimism” of the 1970s, said news of her death had sent shockwaves through the fashion and textile world.

“She was a very good journalist,” she said. “And she exercised her skills with what seemed like minimum effort. Marie spent a lot of her career in a male-dominated industry, but no one would patronise her. She was a real individual, highly enterprising, and very entertaining.”

Ms Scott, a specialist in the menswear and luxury sector, had recently sold her last venture, Savile Row Style Magazine. Friends said she had spoken about retirement, but she was preparing to launch a new website with a Savile Row theme.

“She was about to retire but it was not to be,” Ms Prescott added. “And it’s so sad that she was not able to enjoy retirement. But in a way it’s hard to imagine Marie in retirement. Her work brought her enjoyment.

“What is certain is that she has cemented a place in the history of British fashion and her incredible personality will not be forgotten.”



Born in London as the youngest of six children in relative poverty, Ms Scott got her break in journalism at the Milwaukee Journal, during a visit to the United States. She went on to work for women’s magazines, before joining The Tailor and Cutter Magazine in Soho, whose editor was the legendary John Taylor. Ms Scott worked as an editorial assistant and writer before rising to become deputy editor while growing ever closer to Mr Taylor, who, despite being 18 years her senior, became her life partner.

Ms Cumpsty said: “They were perfect for each other, John with his droll sense of humour, and her tact. But despite her tact she was a woman to be reckoned with.”

They left The Tailor and Cutter in the early 1970s to set up their own publishing business in Denmark Street and at the height of their powers owned 14 titles, promoting bespoke tailoring, British luxury goods, travel and fine living, including Style Magazine. For a short time in the 1980s she was editor of Men’s Wear.

Mr Taylor died in 2003 aged 82, leaving Ms Scott “devastated”. The couple had no children.

Speaking after the funeral, Eric Moonman, Ms Scott’s neighbour of 40 years, remembered her as a “warrior” for her local area.

“She stood up to protect the conser­vation area, and because of her writing skills was able to express issues with great flow,” he said.

Ms Scott was a humanist and jazz fan, who was often seen in Beacon Hill walking her Staffordshire terrier dog. She left 90 per cent of her estate to 33 different animal charities.

There have been no arrests in relation to the collision.