The gardening Guests of Himley - scrapbooks, buses and local history

A look at the lives of village twins Ann and Gilbert

- By JOHN SPARRY Bugle correspondent

ANN Henworth once told me she remembered seeing the Duchess of Windsor outside Himley Church, wearing what she described as a bouffant-ish style coat in yellow and black.

Having once seen a Pathé News compilation showing the Duke of Windsor and his wife along with the Earl of Dudley and family members in front on Himley Hall, I would hazard that the royal couple's visit was in 1947, just prior to the Earl's estates and farmlands being offered for auction.

The duchess's coat might have been what began to be known as the 'New Look.' With Great Britain still employing clothing coupons and Utility Marks, the lady's rig-out, of French design, would no doubt have been regarded with raised eyebrows by the then-Minister of Supply, Harold Wilson. It was he who had been quoted as saying that the New Look - featuring longer skirts and garments of a generous cut - was a waste of good material.

As speaker at a W.I. meeting in Swindon Methodist Chapel rooms, I was once asked to judge that month's competition, which featured old and interesting books.