Mary Lonsdale
11 06 1921 - 14 09 1995
Each year at our Annual Meeting the Mary Lonsdale trophy is presented for a competition that alternates between Handicraft and Produce.
Some of us have wondered who Mary Lonsdale was and would like to know more about her. Her family and friends have provided us with the following information. We can now celebrate her memory with real understanding of her place in our community.
Mary Lonsdale was born Mary Easton in Glaisdale at London House.
In 1942 Mary married a farmer (William) Bill Lonsdale and move to High Ghyll Beck, Glaisdale dale to start married life on the farm. Mary and Bill worked together milking cows and on the other countless farming tasks that needed to be done. During this time she raised a family, a daughter and five sons, many of whom are still local residents. As the children began to grow up she took in visitors for bed and breakfast, she enjoyed meeting people from various places.
Mary enjoyed many happy years in the WI and was at one time president of Glaisdale WI. A highlight for her was a visit to a Buckingham Palace tea party. Another interesting trip was to Denman College in Oxfordshire to attend a cookery course. Mary was a wonderful cook and also enjoyed craft making. Mary had many good friends in the WI and was well liked and was a much loved person.
One of our members remembers her thus:
“She was a pillar of the community, valued member of the WI. and a past president. I remember her helping me with a coffee evening to provide funds for a trip out in the summer for OAPs (my husband and her husband Bill were on the senior citizens' committee which was abandoned when the Dalesfolk began)
She will be remembered by many people in the village.”