It seems such a long time ago that her life was followed by a television crew, sadly today she has died at the age of 9l years.
The farm was without electricity or water but she struggled on alone looking after her cattle in the bleakest of winters till at the age of 66 she moved down into a cottage in the village.
John Gray has written a good overview of her life..
John Gray has written a good overview of her life..
I remember her well Thelma and 'Too long a Winter'. My friend and I were only talking of her the other week and wondering whether she was still alive. She lived to a good old age. I believe the village she moved into was Cotherstone, I wonder if she died there.
ReplyDeleteIt was a way of life fast fading Pat, the most poignant bit for me was her washing her slip in the cold waters of the reservoir, think she was going to London.
DeleteIt is strange how fate or whatever you wish to call it happens.I was sorting books to take to a charity shop at the weekend and came across "Seasons of my Life",the story of Hannah Hauxwell and decided to read it again before I donated it.What a hard life she had,but still lived to 91.
ReplyDeletePerhaps she lived to such a good old age because of the hardship she endured earlier on. Lovely person, her views on marriage were funny. By the way fate moves in mysterious ways;)
DeleteI watched that program several decades ago on PBS-TV--during a long snowy Vermont winter--I could so relate to the rigors of farming in cold weather. I hope the move to the village meant some easier years.
ReplyDeleteI think from the first tv programme people went to help, electricity was bought to the farm by the electricity board and such things as an oven, washing machine were donated as well. Her move to a comfortable cottage was funded by selling the farm and later television series.
DeleteNot a program we got here but it is interesting how this new technology captures the lives of people whose history may have been lost.
ReplyDeleteYes very true, these old ghostlike videos bring back the past vividly, and we should be humbled by past lives and their hardships.
DeleteI was thinking of her only this week. We complain about being cold and fed up with winter, but she just got on with it. A wonderful woman and such a gentle soul.
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