30 December 2022

Neighbours

One woman made it big in the world of fashion. The other woman made it big in the world of historical fiction. They both died this year. What is little known is that they were born within a mile of each other, twenty five miles west of this keyboard near the Derbyshire town of Glossop.

The red arrow points to the birthplace of Dame Vivienne Westwood at Millbrook near Hollingworth and the blue arrow points to Number 20 Brosscroft where Dame Hilary Mantel was born in 1952. I doubt that they ever met each other for they moved in different circles and Vivienne Swire (later Westwood) was born eleven years earlier.
Above, Dame Hilary Mantel who died at the age of seventy following a stroke. Her physical health and well-being was blighted by endometriosis. She won The Booker prize twice - first for "Wolf Hall" and then for "Bring Up The Bodies". Below - her childhood home at 20 Brosscroft, Hadfield.
Above - Dame Vivienne Westwood who was not only a fashion trendsetter and designer but also an activist who addressed a range of causes and remained a rebel to the end. She was 81 years old when she died in her London home just yesterday. Below - Number 6 Millbrook between Hollingworth and Tintwistle where she spent her formative years
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Meanwhile, The Laughing Horse Awards Committee remain in a huddle as they thrash out the merits and indeed the weaknesses of nominees. They have asked me to convey their sincere apologies for the late cancellation of the New Year's Eve Ceremony/Party. It was supposed to be held at luxurious Bantry House in south west Ireland with music supplied by Van Morrison and his band. An Italian American comedian had also been booked for the amusement of assembled guests - Sebastian Maniscalco. Compensation for the late cancellations runs into many thousands. The fault lay squarely with Bantry House who double booked. Their manager - Mick Shenanigan  got their 2022 mixed up with their 2023! Can you believe it?

24 comments:

  1. They obviously breed some talented womenfolk up your way.
    Must be all that good Northern air.

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    1. Fame only points her finger at a few. The rest of us live in relative anonymity like bulrushes.

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  2. Working class heroines.

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  3. And here I was, hoping that the big soiree was to be held this year at the Lloyd Woman's Club.
    Well, dang. So much for THAT!

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    1. Sorry to inform you that the vast majority of the inhabitants of Blogworld have never even heard of Lloyd!

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  4. The sad loss of two very talented women.
    What a shambles this year's Laughing Horse awards have turned into YP. You really should have kept a close eye on someone with the name Mick Shenanigan!

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    1. I am sure that if you had been the lead admin. person, nothing would have gone wrong Carol.

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  5. Interesting to see the childhood homes of famous people, isn't it? You wonder what it was in their experience that made them who they were. Of course it may not have been the house or the geography but more their family life or school or heredity -- hard to say.

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    1. When I visit the childhood home of a famous person I am also left wondering. Sometimes it is all about good fortune.

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  6. I had read of the deaths of both of them but was unaware that they had been born so close to each other. As for that party, I'm glad it was canceled. SWMBO had forbade me from attending and I hate to see other people having a good time when I'm confined with a North Dakota accordion player who doesn't speak good English.

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    1. Is this a coded way of saying that you are in effect SWMBO's prisoner? I could send in a S.W.A.T. team if you give the word.

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  7. Tintwistle! Bottoms Reservoir! Marvellous names. With a new blog, I must be in the running again for the prestigious Laughing Horse award.

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    1. Dream on Andrew! The rules state clearly that a blogger may only win the top award once in an entire lifetime.

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  8. At this end of the year, I can believe almost anything. Especially from someone named Shenanigan.

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  9. Well, to be fair, it was too much to ask for another knock-yer-socks off celebration so close on the heels of HRH's Jubilee. I imagine there is only so much bunting and fireworks and celebrating that one nation can handle.

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    1. Good point. Maybe it's better this way.

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  10. I listened to Hilary Mantel last week, "Giving up the Ghost", rather moving but had to put aside the book 'Wolf Hall' for its lengthiness. As for Vivian Westwood, remember her 'carpet' coats, I had a fashionable tapestry coat. But sad they have both departed this world, the BBC paid due tribute.

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    1. Both remarkable women and both eternal "lefties".

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  11. Laughing Horse Awards ceremony cancelled? No one told me, I'm already on the ferry to Ireland.

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    1. If you turn back right now you could be back in Lincolnshire by midnight.

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  12. Never fear, I have written Bantry House and given them a piece of my mind. What sort of perfidy is this? I told them they should be ashamed of themselves, completely ruining such a venerable tradition as the Laughing Horse Awards! It leaves a bad taste in my mouth, almost like bait.

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    Replies
    1. I hope you didn't use any salty language in your message.

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Mr Pudding welcomes all genuine comments - even those with which he disagrees. However, puerile or abusive comments from anonymous contributors will continue to be given the short shrift they deserve. Any spam comments that get through Google/Blogger defences will also be quickly deleted.

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