Rose's Corner

Today's post, going live on 2nd August, will be brief.   It is in the nature of birthday wishes for what would have been a 105th birthday....

Those of you who have followed my blog for some time will know that every year between 2016 and 2020 I made a birthday present for my friend and neighbour in England, Rose Howard.  I began with her 99th birthday, thinking that I had better not wait till she was 100 in case she didn't get there.  Little did I think I would end up making 5 gifts - by the end it was a struggle to think of something new!

I met Rose too late in her life for her to have had a chance of visiting Small Worlds but she was always fascinated by it. In fact for my 77th birthday she and her brilliant carer Jo gave me 77 tiny packages, most of which contained items which have found their home in the Beamish Miner's Cottage.

Rose never liked to think of no longer being around but it was clear that she wanted very much to be part of Small Worlds so now all those birthday presents have come together in Rose's Corner - and I get a chance to remember Rose with every visitor to the Museum and to share something of her spirit with them.

So without further ado, here is Rose's Corner.....Happy 105th Birthday Rose!

Rose's mother's teacup, well over a 100 years old itself, peeps out between the 103rd and 99th birthday presents

This 103rd birthday present came along with a giant bunch of sunflowers - full-size of course!

When you are 100 years old, then it has to be roses all the way....

102nd tea party at Mabel's Vintage Tearooms. 

Rose's Room on her 101st birthday, complete with the Queen's card from the previous year on the mantelpiece.

  The pictures right and left now hang in Small Worlds a short distance away from Rose's Corner. 

Again, the full-size versions.

The tiny house was a Christmas present from Alison, also known as Butterfly. A hop out of kin here.

Introducing Rose in Czech and English

Columbia Road, including the primary school Rose attended. The picture was a gift from my friend Lynda Cowan. We discovered her grandparents lived in the adjacent road to Rose when she was a child. Small World indeed.

The rose painting is by Dora Marshall, who long lived and painted in the Waltham Cross area of Herts where Rose lived.

PS If you are unfamiliar with the gifts you see above you can find all the necessary links to see them in detail in last year's post, The Last Rose of Summer, together with more about Rose.

Remember that clicking on the photos makes them bigger for better viewing.

Within a very few days another blog post should be appearing here, one that should stretch your minds and your imagination - it certainly has ours! So do watch this space.....