Eleanor Van de Weyer, later the Dowager Viscountess Esher (1862-1940), known informally as ‘Nellie’, was the youngest daughter Sylvain Van de Weyer (Belgian minister at the Court of St James) and Elizabeth Bates (one of Queen Victoria’s friends and companions). As a young girl, Eleanor spent time at Windsor Castle with Queen Victoria’s young children. She met Reginald Brett, later Viscount Esher, when she was thirteen years old, after he paid regular visits to her parents’ residence from 1877.

In September 1879, Eleanor and Reginald married. Together they had four children: Oliver Brett (1881-1963), Maurice Brett (1882-1934), Dorothy Brett (1883-1977), and Sylvia Brooke (née Brett) (1885-1971). They lived at Tilney Street in London, Orchard Lea in Windsor, and The Roman Camp in Callander, Scotland.

In 1909, Eleanor arranged first-aid classes for St John Ambulance Association and the British Red Cross Society. She also ran a series of classes for women on cooking and managing housekeeping expenditure. During the First World War, Eleanor restarted these classes as part of her 'Home Lectures for Women' series. In 1915, Eleanor published a book of poetry titled 'Dreamland' with T and A Constable. In the same year, she became Lady of Justice for the Order of St John of Jerusalem. In 1916, she wrote a report for the Commissioner of the Joint War Committee of the British Red Cross on nurses working in Anglo-French hospitals, which saw her carry out several visits with her husband, Reginald.

Alongside Reginald, Eleanor also played a key role in supporting the Women's Emergency Canteen and several ambulance units, including the Hackett-Lowther Unit, working on the front lines in France. Eleanor also co-ordinated the Territorial Relief Fund in London, providing support to soldiers injured as a result of the war. Eleanor was also one of several Vice-Presidents of the British Women's Patriotic League and the Serbian Red Cross Society in Great Britain. She moved regularly between London, France, and Scotland.

In August 1910, she was appointed Lady Vice-President of the Order of Mercy. In 1915, she was appointed Lady of Justice in the Order of St John of Jerusalem. She went on to receive several awards for her war work including the Royal Red Cross Award, for organising and training Voluntary Aid Detachments (1916) and the Medal of French Gratitude (1920).

In 1919, Eleanor opened an antiques and curiosity shop called the Pedlar’s Pack, investing the profits in the public garden at Callander. After her husband’s death in 1930, she moved from Roman Camp to Tilney Street, where she was often in the company of Maurice and Zena’s children. Eleanor typed much of her husband’s literary work and after his death, proof-read an edited version of his journals and letters.

Eleanor died of cancer on 7th February 1940.