A MILLIONAIRESS whose battered body was discovered buried in Windsor Great Park was a former York schoolgirl, The Press can reveal.

Joanna Brown, who died after suffering a “blunt force trauma to the head” earlier this month, was the daughter of a well-known York builder and property developer who lived in Badger Hill.

Her father, Christopher Simpson, is understood to have part-owned Sawdon and Simpson Ltd, based at Millfield Lane, which was sold in the 1970s to Barrett Homes.

Joanna is believed to have attended the junior school of the former York College for Girls, situated in the “red house” building near the Minster, but following the sale of the firm, went with her family to the Isle of Man.

A friend of Joanna’s family and a relative, who both live in the York area, were approached by The Press but declined to make any comment.

Mrs Brown’s body was found by police in remote woodland on the royal estate five days after she vanished from her £3 million mock-Tudor mansion home in Ascot, which was run as an award-winning bed and breakfast.

The 46-year-old mother-of-two, who is reported to have been described by her family as “wonderful and caring”, had children, Alex, 11, and nine-year-old Katie.

Her husband, British Airways pilot Robert Brown, 46, an accomplished cross-country runner, has appeared before Reading Crown Court, charged with her murder.

He has also been charged with preventing a coroner from holding an inquest by disposing of her body in an unknown place.