1925 - 2025
(née Levinson)
Guild Member (in College 1940 - 1944, St. Austin’s)
Zara spent most of the Second World War at CLC. She later recalled how most girls lost fathers or brothers and would regularly arrive at breakfast wearing a black armband. Her own brother, Harold Brook Levinson, a 20 year old Spitfire pilot was killed in 1943.
In the Spring of 1944 Zara left College for a position in the Air Ministry, a Government department responsible for managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force and civil aviation that existed from 1918 to 1964.
By June 1945, Zara had married the impresario David Land, best known for playing a significant role in the development of the careers of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Following their early success, Zara was able to share a life that took her around the world, accompanying her husband to international productions of shows that would go on to shape modern musical theatre.
An elegant and humorous woman, Zara was warm, witty and sociable. She loved gardening, cooking, dogs and word games. Her sharp mind and quiet determination were reflected in her long relationship with the Times Cryptic Crossword Competition which she won at the age of 86 after submitting 20 years of weekly entries.
Zara Land was born on 3rd August 1925 and died peacefully, just over 100 years later on 4th September 2025. She is survived by her son Harold Brook Land and daughter Lorraine Esdaile as well as five of her six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
