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The sisters grew up round here and Unity is buried near Burford at Swinbrook church, as are three of the others and their parents. Nancy did write "Love in a Cold Climate". The sisters wrote screeds of letters and several books; there must be loads of material for any biographer. I imagine it has been done already.
The church has some remarkable effigies, 2 stacks of three larger-than-lifesize knights on either side of the chancel. There is also a lovely walk to the church at Widford, a deserted village, built for monks on top of something Roman. I really enjoyed walking there- no road!
The only boy of the family, Tom, refused to fight the Germans but agreed to fight Japan and was killed doing so. jessica's husband was also killed in WW2
Interestingly, elle, the family originated in Northumberland and the girl's father was the 2nd Baron Redesdale, which is in the Northumberland National Park near Otterburn.

Hi, Rusty!
Are you back from your walk?
How far afield did you venture?
No need to apologise! A very similar title - easily confused!
I think the nearest I have been to Newmarket is probably Aldeburgh, where we have stayed several times.
Are you interested in Newmarket largely because of its racing history?
I have read allusions to it in books by Dick Francis.
I like his books, also those by John Francombe.
Light entertaining reading; a pleasant change sometimes.
When I have finished reading "A Town Like Alice", I shall start "Chesapeake".
I am looking forward to that.



Thanks , Ros!
Some good background information on the Mitford family there!

Hello, Elle,
Yes, I want to read about the goings on at Newmarket.
The book is from the time of King James 1st, up to the present day.
I was only away for twenty minutes.
I could not understand why both books had the same title!
Then I twigged I had blundered!
I think I shall get Take Six Girls, mainly to see how the other half lived, and we will never see a family like that, ever again.
There was a previous biography about the sisters, but the author was criticised for going very easy on Diana, who was still alive at the time.
Apparently, Duchess Debo's office was filled with Elvis memorabilia!
I am interested in what happened to Unity, after she shot herself.
I have never heard about that, or how long she lived.
I hope you like Chesapeake.
I did.

Hi, Rusty!
Earlier, you mentioned the Great South Run at Portsmouth.
Did you get to watch it?
Were there any big names we know taking part?
Quite often, Jo Pavey takes part in these Charity running events.
My daughter took part in a Race For Life in Regent's Park, London, and Jo and Paula Radcliffe were there running alongside her!
Their presence really made the day for all the amateurs who had come along to make money for their individual charities.
Oh, a granddaughter was visiting you today, wasn't she?
Did you give her lunch?

Hello, Elle,
No, I had the race on my television, but only in background.
Yes, I had a granddaughter here, but only for a chat.
Unity Mitford's middle name was Valkyrie.
I did not know that was a used name.
It is a goddess, apparently.

Hi, Rusty!
I am not terribly sure what a Valkyrie is?
I have a feeling that it is a handmaiden of Odin; weren't there twelve of them who chose who should die in battle and who should live?
I don't know how that worked ?
I might need to check this out on Google?
A most peculiar forename to give to a young baby.
Wasn't Unity the one who had affiliations with Hitler?

Hello, Elle,
Anne Bradford has Valkyrie as a goddess.
I am not up on Odin. What is a handmaiden?
I thought it an unusual name for a child?
Yes, Unity, I think, was involved with Hitler.
Unity is an unusual name. too?
She shot a bullet into her head when war broke out, but survived.
She eventually died at Oban.

Hi, Rusty!
I thought that a handmaiden was simply a sort of female attendant.
But ...I have looked it up in Anne B.
And now I am really confused....?
Anne says that a "Valkyrie" is Brynhild?
Now who or what is this?
(She doesn't mention "goddess" ?)
And under "handmaiden", she say a "a manicurist"...... (er, pardon?)
or "Valkyrie" or "Iras"?
Who was /is Iras?
Maybe we have different editions?
Mine is the 7th?
I shall see later if there is anything in Brewers.......
A belated dinner awaits me now .......we are behind tonight.......

Hello, Elle,
Yes, a handmaiden sounds like a waitress or similar, I think.
I have Brynhild, too, but I found Valkyrie under "Goddess".
There is Walkyrie, too. Same goddess?
I cannot find iras anywhere.
My Bradford is 8th.
Yes, best eat your dinner before it grows cold...and you have to phone your cousin!

Hi, Rusty!
Now, according to Brewers,
Valkyries are the "choosers of the slain".
There are nine, (or seven or twelve) - this is how it written there - handmaidens of Odin, who, mounted on horses , and holding drawn swords , rush into the thick of battle and selected those destined to die.
The Valkyries then conducted these heroes to Valhalla , where they waited upon them and served them with mead and ale in the skulls of the vanquished.
Brewers gives Odin as the Norse god of wisdom, poetry, war and agriculture.
As god of the dead , he presided over those slain in battle.
(which fits with having Valkyries as his handmaidens)
I cannot find "Brynhild" or "Iras"?
Thank you for the reminder to phone my cousin - I shall do that forthwith.......