Primrose (Pip) Leyman

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Summary

Based on an interview recorded on 20 October 2005. It reflects the interviewee’s life and memories at that time.

Primrose “Pip” Leyman was born at Hereford Hospital in 1948 and grew up in Fownhope’s Stone House – a home bustling with activity, laughter, and hard work. Her family ran a thriving nursery there, growing everything from tomatoes and cucumbers to trees and cut flowers. Pip remembers greenhouses full of colour, market stalls in Hereford, and a childhood shaped by seasons, soil, and Siamese cats – even a pet fox at one point!

Pip was the middle of three sisters, all of whom attended Fownhope School. She recalls being less favoured by the headmistress, but enjoying subjects like history and needlework. Despite childhood illness that kept her in hospital for long stretches, she fondly remembers earning a red-and-white bicycle from Dr Malkin for reaching her tenth birthday – a milestone some feared she wouldn’t see.

Her life was steeped in village rhythm: Brownies in the court stables, bellringing in the church tower, and long summer holidays in Borth, where the contrast between cosy bungalow life and the echoing halls of Stone House always struck her. Pip helped at the nursery from a young age, preparing seedlings and selling at market, while her mother and grandmother became known for their beautiful wreaths and bouquets, carefully crafted in the days before oasis.

Later, she joined Young Farmers at Woolhope, sang in the choir, and rang bells at towers across the county. Pip’s memories bring to life a village filled with independent shops, local characters, and a strong sense of community. Now living more simply, she remembers her family’s legacy with affection – a life well-rooted in the heart of Fownhope.