Jack Roylance-Thompson: I imagine him to be a temperamental fellow who had a love for his morning coffee and weekly game of bowls on the Bishop's Green.

Eleanor Girt: Not too far off ... My Granfather was a charming man, gentle and with a full head of hair right into his 70s!. He spent much of his lfe living abroad - either fighting in WWII or teaching in West Africa. He retired to Wells with his third wife and it is here that I came to visit him throughout my childhood. He could be quite formal, always wearing a cravat and dinner was a sophisticated event. He was a huge supporter of the National Trust and we spent many joyous days together visiting the fine houses and gardens. It is these and many other great memories that bring me down to Somerset regularly to relive my childhood summers and to sit and think about my grandfather on his bench.

Kirsten Lavers: I met Eleanor in the pouring rain just as I was finishing fixing my replacement texts onto all the benches. We chatted standing in a puddle sheltering under a tree. So the text I had written for her grandfather's bench was strangely apt after all.

Hilary Barrett (by email): I am Roger’s only child, Hilary Barrett, from his marriage to Joyce Moore. I was born in the War while Father was serving overseas – he was at Dunkirk and later in Burma. I grew up in Somerset, in Shepton Montague and Yeovil. After the war Father trained as a teacher and then went into the Army Education Corps, where he obtained the rank of Major. He served in Egypt, Cyprus and Germany, during which time my parents were divorced. Although he kept in touch with letters and gifts, I did not see him again until I was 18 and he had met Rachel, to whom he was very happily married. Not many years later, I emigrated to Canada, got married and had two children, but we managed to visit England every two or three years, and always spent a very happy time in Wells with my Father and Rachel. It was odd getting to know my father when I was an adult, but very rewarding. He was charming, funny and thoughtful, and always came up with good advice when I needed it most. He was close to his sister Pat, who lives in Trowbridge, and the two of them went on National Trust excursions together, while Rachel stayed at home marking exam papers. He and I also enjoyed time together as we were both interested in geography, rural life, agriculture and the environment. I remember getting into a discussion about rare breeds at the Rural Life Museum (in a barn at, I think Glastonbury) – a discussion which was way ahead of its time and which influenced me later when I worked on the environmental aspects of farming. Stourhead was another favourite destination on our visits, as was a National Trust village where they served wonderful cream teas. We never went to Longleat as Father disapproved of keeping lions in captivity!

Pat Robertson: I did not personally know him but he was a very active member and chairman of the Wells District National Trust Group which grew to have 500+ members in the 1980s. The activities he organised with the committee gave great pleasure to the members and supported the work of the Trust. His widow later became President of our branch.

 

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