Beatrix Havergal
Beatrix Havergal | |
|---|---|
 Havergal in 1943 | |
| Born | Grace Beatrix Helen Havergal 7 July 1901 |
| Died | 8 April 1980 (aged 78) |
| Occupation | horticulturalist |
Beatrix Havergal
In 1932 Beatrix Havergal founded
Early life and education
Grace Beatrix Helen Havergal was born at Roydon Manor House in 1901, the second of three children born to the Revd. Clement Havergal (1854-1941) and his wife Eveline. She was also the great-niece of composer
Havergal began working in horticulture after leaving school in 1916, taking on local gardening jobs under the auspices of the Women's War Agricultural Committee. Soon after, her father rejoined the family, and their finances improved sufficiently to allow Havergal to consider training. She ultimately chose to pursue horticulture over music. She subsequently attended the Thatcham Fruit and Flower Farm near Newbury, wherem she graduated in 1920, obtaining the Royal Horticultural Society's certificate with honours.
Horticultural career
Havergal's first professional challenge was to design and create a garden at Cold Ash in Berkshire, where the high quality of her work brought her to the attention of Olive Willis, the headmistress of the nearby Downe House boarding school. Willis invited Havergal to become the school's head gardener, an offer which she accepted. She created six tennis courts at Downe House, which later became known as the Havergal Courts.[2]
Havergal was inspired by Willis to gravitate towards education. Whilst at Downe House, she met the school's housekeeper, Avice Sanders, with whom she would remain partnered for the rest of the latter's life. In 1927, they moved to a cottage in the grounds of Pusey House, Oxfordshire and first began to teach students. With less than £250 at the outset, the school supplemented its income by growing produce, which was sold at Swindon Market. The courses combined theory and practical instruction with high standards of efficiency. This training (radically new at the time), ensured that Havergal's reputation grew substantially.
After Beatrix's death Roald Dahl wrote to Quentin Blake describing how Blake's drawing of the character of Miss Trunchbull from his children's novel 'Matilda' should be based on Havergal's stature and dress sense. A copy of this letter is held at the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire. The photo Dahl was describing is also there, having been found in his filling cabinet in his writing shed. Dahl and Havergal are likely to have known one another due to their love of horticulture.
Waterperry
In 1932, the school moved to Waterperry House, a small manor house in Waterperry, Oxfordshire, which originally was rented from
Later life and retirement
Avice Sanders died in 1970. In 1971, with her health waning, Havergal sold the estate, leading to the closure of the school. She lived from then on in a cottage in the grounds. She died at Tower House, Woolton Hill, in 1980, while visiting her brother. She was buried in the churchyard of St Mary's Church in Waterperry on 14 April.[7]
References
- ^ 'Waterperry Gardens, Oxfordshire', in Julia Brittain, Plants, People, and Places, 2006.
- . Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Havergal, (Grace) Beatrix Helen". Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "Beatrix Havergal (1901 – 1980)". Illuminated Letters. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ "No. 41909". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1960. p. 17.
- ^ "Waterperry - History". waterperry.com.
- ^ "Havergal, (Grace) Beatrix Helen". Retrieved 27 March 2018.
