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Died 16 April 1978, Freshford, Somerset, United Kingdom Books The Verse-Book of a Homely Woman, Salute to the Village | ||
27 because the verse book of a homely woman fay inchfawn elizabeth rebecca ward
Elizabeth Rebecca Ward (2 December 1880 – 16 April 1978) was a prolific English writer of popular verse, religious works, and works for children. She wrote under the pen-name of Fay Inchfawn. Her works were serialised in women's magazines and she was sometimes known as "The Poet Laureate of the Home".
Contents
11 homesick the verse book of a homely woman fay inchfawn elizabeth rebecca ward
Early life and family
Elizabeth Rebecca Ward was born Elizabeth Rebecca Daniels at Portishead, Somerset, on 2 December 1880. She married Atkinson Ward (1882 – October 1965) in 1911 in the Long Ashton district of Somerset. They moved to Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire and in 1913 had a daughter, Mary Arundell Ward (died 1983). Mary was known as "Bunty" in Ward's books. In 1927, the family moved to Innisfree, a Victorian villa at Freshford, Somerset, where she lived for the rest of her life.
Career
Writing as Fay Inchfawn, Ward was a prolific author of books of popular verse during the years between the two World Wars. Her works were serialised in women's magazines and she was sometimes known as "The Poet Laureate of the Home". She also wrote books for children, including with her husband under the pseudonym Philip Inchfawn, and numerous religious works.
Her Salute to the village (Lutterworth, 1943) was a first-hand account of the effects of the Second World War on a middle class provincial family with real locations and people disguised using pseudonyms. Although not identified in the book, the village is presumed to be Freshford. The book describes the influx of refugees from the bombing of nearby Bath in 1942 during the "Baedeker raids", shortages, the blackout, fire-watching, and the building of pill-boxes and barricades in the fields so that enemy gliders could not land. It was illustrated with line drawings by Alfred Bestall who also drew Rupert Bear for The Daily Express. The book was republished in 2010 by Folly Books with a new biographical introduction by Nick McCamley.
Ward's memoirs were published by Lutterworth Press in 1963 as Those remembered days: A personal recording. This was followed by Something more to say: A personal recording in 1965 and Not the final word: Or, a joyful tribute in 1969.
Death
Ward died on 16 April 1978 and is buried at St Mary's, Limpley Stoke. A celebration of her life was held at St Mary's on what would have been her 100th birthday, which was written up for This England magazine.