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Hannah Hauxwell

(20 Posts)
Tegan2 Sat 03-Feb-18 00:48:34

Strangely enough, I was only thinking about her the other day and then tonight, whilst browsing through The Times, I saw that she'd died on 31st Jan. I must admit to assuming she'd died a long time ago; then again, she always looked much older than she was, her life being so hard till she was 'discovered'. I loved the series of documentaries about her, and Too long a Winter has always stayed in my mind [I think I have a book about her somewhere]. A truly remarkable woman, with a lovely way of 'thinking' about things.

Eloethan Sat 03-Feb-18 01:04:41

She lived an extremely frugal existence for many years, yet still lived to 91. Makes you wonder doesn't it.

Greyduster Sat 03-Feb-18 08:34:26

I too was haunted by Too Long a Winter, and years after watching it, I bought the CD. I think when that programme was made she was in her mid forties, but as Tegan says, she looked much older, and who can wonder at it. If there was ever an example of Yorkshire Grit, she was it! She embraced her new life and travels with remarkable aplomb.

Auntieflo Sat 03-Feb-18 08:37:41

Sad to hear the news. I loved her programmes on TV, a long time ago now. She was certainly a hardy soul, and with such a gentle voice. I hope she enjoyed a much more comfortable life after fame found her. RIP Hannah.

mollie Sat 03-Feb-18 09:15:47

I was surprised she had only just died, tbh. But it said something about human resilience coping with such a harsh life. My great grandmothers had very tough early lives and both lived well into their 90s. I wonder if they might show the film again?

wildswan16 Sat 03-Feb-18 09:25:13

She was a wonderful lady, so kind and gentle, with a dignity we rarely see today.

MissAdventure Sat 03-Feb-18 09:30:35

She was a beautiful lady, inside and out. She had a real serenity that shone through.

Alexa Sat 03-Feb-18 09:43:09

Hannah is an interesting case of a woman living an solitary life and not suffering from traumatic loneliness, which is a horror of our times. Why was her life on a lonely farm a relative success for her, psychologically?

Smithy Sat 03-Feb-18 10:09:12

I think she just contented herself with the very basics of life and needed nothing else. My first thought when I heard she'd died was, well her hard life hasn't weakened her. May she rest in peace.

merlotgran Sat 03-Feb-18 11:35:12

There are lots of books about her especially as she had the opportunity to travel once she left the farm.

A remarkable woman.

RIP Hannah.

Tegan2 Sat 03-Feb-18 12:47:29

Alexa; I think it's because it happened very gradually over a period of time and her younger life was one where there was a large family network/thriving local community. It just slowly ebbed away and, as a very intelligent, well read woman, her books and her animals became her friends.

farview Sun 04-Feb-18 09:23:08

Amazing lady,always gave me a 'feel good'feeling,would have loved to meet her RIP Hannah ?

merlotgran Sun 04-Feb-18 10:06:59

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5348647/The-true-grit-Britains-reality-TV-star.html

Nice article about her. Shocking to think how young she was at the time as she looked so old. I'm used to life in the wilds but I do like my home comforts especially in the winter.

lemongrove Sun 04-Feb-18 10:16:52

I remember the tv programme about her, she just got on with things and lived how she and her family always had ( people did).
My own Grandmother, also in a Yorkshire cottage had only one tap, a cold one in the scullery ( too tiny to call a kitchen)
And no bathroom or even a toilet inside the house!
I hope Hannah enjoyed moving to a town and her travels.

Tegan2 Sun 04-Feb-18 11:50:26

I'd like to think that her ashes would be scattered at the farm; it's where her soul needs to be.

silverlining48 Sun 04-Feb-18 11:53:59

I also remember her in the programme, a strong independant woman, a coper. Rip. Hannah.

maytime2 Sun 04-Feb-18 16:12:12

I read today that her farm is now worth over 1/2 a million pounds, whereas in the seventies she survived on £250 per year.

Newquay Sun 04-Feb-18 17:08:01

I DO hope that the documentaries about her are repeated. What a lovely woman she was.

Alexa Mon 05-Feb-18 13:48:14

Thanks, Tegan. Hannah's coping psychology i.e. enlarging her psyche towards books and nature is what I call 'spiritual' which is such a difficult word out of context.

Tegan2 Mon 05-Feb-18 17:26:17

I think I know what you mean Alexa.