Helena Biggs, read by Margaret Biggs

Listen to the interview

Summary

Margaret Biggs brings to life the remarkable story of her mother-in-law, Helena Biggs (née Watkins), who was born in 1896 at Mount Pleasant, Fownhope. Through Helena’s vivid recollections, we’re gifted a moving portrait of rural life in the early 20th century, full of hard work, community spirit, and quiet determination.

Helena’s childhood was steeped in chapel-going, music, and a strong sense of duty. She walked a mile to school, passing hawkers and gypsies, and fondly remembered helping the organist at Oldway Chapel or learning to sew and knit under the careful eye of Miss Prosser. She would later become a skilled dressmaker and buttermaker, winning medals and praise at the Hereford Butter Market.

Life wasn’t without sorrow—her family was touched by war, illness, and tragedy—but Helena’s memories are filled with warmth: musical evenings where carpets were rolled up for dancing, club walks with decorated sticks, and magical nights watching Halley’s Comet. She met her husband Dick during hop picking, and together they raised a family, farmed, and threw themselves into village life—organising concerts, fundraising for the Memorial Hall, and supporting the British Legion.

Helena’s voice shines with quiet pride in a life lived with integrity and care—from wrapping cream cheeses in muslin to helping build the Women’s Institute into a hub of creativity and learning. Her love of Fownhope, her practical skills, and her indomitable spirit are beautifully preserved in this reading by Margaret.

Helena and Dick lived well into their 80s. Their story, full of joy despite hardship, reminds us how much can be achieved with love, grit, and a strong sense of community. It’s a story to be treasured.