General Chat

Hello Bridget I was thrilled when looking through the threads (after being away from my 'pooter for about 6 weeks - 'pooter breakdown) to find another letter from Mary May. I saw her photographs a couple of days ago, and my first impression was that she reminded me of Jennifer Jones the 40/50's film star. Something to do with the bone structure I think. A beautiful lady inside and out. Thanks you Norah

THANKYOU BRIDGET another truly inspiring letter sandra

While at home, working in her father’s dairy at Penally Mary May was quite used to receiving visitors and talking to strangers. Such was the reputation of this farm and dairy, many modern appliances found there way to the Penally Court dairy on approval where they were given a fair test. It appeared this was also the practice when Mary went to work at Balmoral. Manufactures would send their latest inventions for trial at the Royal dairy. In her next letter home, Mary is showing off a little to her family about her superior skill with dairy equipment. Her father was having difficulty with a separator she had sent him. The Royal Dairy Wednesday afternoon. My dear Father, I hasten to answer your letter just received, per return. Also send you by this post a page with full instructions and diagram of separator, which you cannot fail to understand. I couldn’t help laughing when reading yours to find neither you nor Lewis (farm hand) could turn it and I could do it half through the milking with one hand, and so could young Lizzie. I only wish I could fly south and put it right for you. There can’t possibly be anything wrong with it, I feel certain for the firm never send me anything but what is in perfect working order. They do not require anything done to them for three years at the very least, so there isn’t much fear. I thought The Victoria (name of separator, proberely in honour of the Queen) would be much better for you at home and I can always get you the oil. The ring, which holds down the India rubber ring underneath the bowl, may possibly be screwed down a little too tight. If the thing trembles, it is too tight, and just the least bit you must slacken it with the thing for that purpose. What a nuisance it is being so far away. I believe I have a bigger bump for engineering than you have, even if I am a girl! The brass cup by the spindle, which has a lid over it, must be kept full of oil. Don’t use any oil but theirs. The weather here has turned bitterly cold, too. Snow on the tops of the highest hills, ground white with frost every morning. It suits me and my work better than the heat nevertheless. On Monday evening Princess Henry came to thank me for the Prince of Wales feathers which I made for luncheon on Sunday and a lovely basket of flowers for the dinner table at night. She was in a most charming and talkative mood, such as I have never seen H.R.H. before. She said I was a born sculptor; mind, so you must expect great things of me yet, such as a statue of H.M. the Queen, etc.!! She brought Princess Ena, Prince Alexandra and Prince Maurice as well, who were accompanied by their Governess and Tutor.(who had never seen the dairy before) The Princess said I had splendid taste for decoration. She admires my new butter box more than anything and noticed it was something new. So I told her that last September was so trying, and in case of a repetition of it this year, I resolved to invent something to help me. She thought it a capital and novel idea. Last evening Lady Churchill, (Mother of Winston Churchill) called on me with the Hon. Susan Baring, (the intended Lady Reid) whom she accompanied to introduce to me at Sir James’s special request. I admire his taste greatly. She is dark, rather good looking, not so tall as I am, and a very nice easy manner. She talked away to me like anything. Said she heard no end about me and my lovely dairy and artistic work. She hails from Devonshire, she said. Lady Churchill was exceedingly nice and kind. I cannot help noticing how plain all the Queen’s ladies are, and such a nice quiet way of speaking.. No bounce and loud talking like our nobility in the South. (When Mary refers to the ladies as “plain” she means unaffected, rather than ill looking. We know Lady Randolph Churchill was an acknowledged beauty) Our butter is like gold, although the cows get very little grass. It is nearly all steamed food at present. Henderson proves an excellent and most attentive cattleman, and keeps the whole place, inside and out like a new pin. Now, I don’t think I have anything more to tell you today. This is my only easy day the whole week. That’s why I have time to write per return. Much love to all, your loving daughter May. As the above letter speaks of (milk/cream) separators, now would be a good time to add a little postscript. After Mary May’s death in 1941 my late father-in-law who was Mary May’s nephew received a postal communication asking him to call in at the railway station in Athenry (the nearest Town) They lived on a farm in a rural part of Ireland and were raising a family of four boys and four girls, times were hard. Eventually, arriving at the railway station he discovered his aunt Mary had left him a separator, several paintings and other items. My husband Aidan clearly remembers the milk/cream separator, which was housed in a beautiful inlaid cabinet. The problem was, some kind of tax or duty had to be paid before the items could be handed over. As the family did not have the means to meet this demand, it was decided enough money could be scraped together to claim the butter separator, which would be useful on the farm. In the event, it was found to be a delicate and fancy piece of equipment, and not suited to their needs. The paintings and other items? Well who knows what ever happened to them. They would probably have been auctioned off to cover the cost of transport from England to Ireland. Some years and four grown up boys later, the separator was taken apart to “See how it works” The various components were never put back and lost over the years. The last my husband Aidan saw of it was its bowl being used by granny to hold the chicken feed. A small part of the cabinet still remains. Love, Bridget x x x