An operation left her unable to have children. She suffered a heart attack at her home and died on 6 May 1993, aged 79. Honours Benson was made an honorary fellow of Leeds Polytechnic in 1988, the only significant honour she received during her lifetime. In 2011, she was commemorated by Leeds Civic Trust with a blue plaque placed at her childhood home in Cemetery Road, Holbeck. Cultural references In 1984, The Silver Lady, a play by Liane Aukin based on Benson's life, was staged at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Benson and her band have been suggested as a possible basis for Alan Plater's TV film The Last of the Blonde Bombshells and play Blonde Bombshells of 1943, in which a woman reunites her wartime all-female band. She is also mentioned in the 'Grieg's Piano Concerto, by Eric Morecambe' comedy sketch, featuring Andre Previn, shown on the BBC 'Morecambe and Wise' show, in 1971. Discography Ivy Benson And Her Orchestra (1977) Ivy Benson And Her All Girl Band (2000) You Danced to These Bands (2001) See also Gracie Cole – trumpeter with the Ivy Benson band. June Smith – singer and trumpeter with the Ivy Benson band All-female band References External links Ivy Benson and her All Girl Band 1913 births 1993 deaths People from Holbeck English jazz bandleaders English jazz saxophonists 20th-century English musicians Leeds Blue Plaques 20th-century saxophonists Musicians from Leeds Swing bandleaders Swing saxophonists Women jazz saxophonists