A woman of many and varied interests and talents from one of the oldest families in Cumberland, Annette Harwood (née Hudleston) died peacefully at home in Carlisle after a short period of illness. She was 88 years old.
Annette Hudleston, the second child of Nigel Hudleston, of Hutton John, and Lilian Triggs, of Simonstown, South Africa, was born in Edinburgh in 1935. Her early years were marked by the divorce of her parents and World War II.
Her father was a captain in the Royal Engineers, and Annette and her older brother John were brought up at Hutton John by their aunts, Dionis and Joyce, and their grandfather, Ferdinand Hudleston.
The company of evacuees posted to Hutton John enlivened the atmosphere and the children enjoyed being involved in the many wartime routines. Early schooling was something of a patchwork, but the school Annette remembered best and which she attended for the longest period was Keswick Grammar School.
Annette excelled at school, and had a particular interest in history which was encouraged by her stepmother Marjorie (née Ballingal) who Nigel had married at the end of the war. This shared passion forged a lasting rapport between them.
Despite her formidable intellect, Annette was enrolled by her father at Atholl Crescent, a domestic science college in Edinburgh where she studied household management.
After graduating, Annette found work in London with the Coal Utilisation Council as a cookery demonstrator. She enjoyed the heady social whirl of the capital in the 50s, and it was there she met Christopher Harwood. After a year’s courtship they were married in Penrith in 1960.
A short spell in Derbyshire, where her first two children, Rupert and Felicity, were born, was followed by a move to Fulbrook, near Burford, Oxfordshire, as Christopher had found employment with New College Oxford as a land agent. In 1967 their family was made complete by the birth of Theresa.
Annette’s heart was always in the North, however, and in 1981 the Harwoods bought the former rectory at Watermillock. Renaming it Kirkgate, Annette threw herself into renovating the house and developing extensive and beautiful gardens. Once this was complete, she continued for a time to offer B&B which she had started back in the Cotswolds.
Annette was more than a keen gardener; she had studied horticulture at Waterperry House while in Oxfordshire and was an extremely knowledgeable plantswoman. As well as taking part in the local Open Gardens scheme, she undertook several garden design commissions around the Lake District.
The weather, having a direct impact on her gardening, also developed into a new hobby. She kept meticulous records and for several years was the Watermillock weather reporter for Radio Cumbria.
Stemming from her passion for history, Annette embarked on far-reaching genealogical research. Her Hudleston ancestors had also enjoyed this interest, so she had much to work with including family correspondence, photos and mementos.
She collected a huge library of historical reference books and joined the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, of which her grandfather had been vice-president. Annette claimed she could trace the Hudleston line all the way back to Charlemagne.
Other illustrious connections include Father John Hudleston, who provided sanctuary to Charles II after his defeat at Worcester; a great-great-grandmother, Emma Champion Armstrong Roberts, who was for a time engaged to Garibaldi; and great-grandmother Laura, who was the daughter of George Ledwell Taylor, a famous architect responsible for the design of several buildings in 19th Century London.
An accomplished pianist, Annette is remembered playing Chopin waltzes from an early age. She was also hugely skilled at sewing, embroidery, tapestry, tailoring (Linton tweed suits and coats), knitting, crochet and upholstery. She learned to spin and weave on a loom and researched and used natural dyes.
Cooking was another activity at which Annette excelled. Her preference was for traditional and wholesome food, using butter, cream and alcohol freely in her recipes. This said, as a child of the war years, she could make a meal out of anything.
Other activities included an active membership of the Watermillock WI and amateur dramatics with Penrith Savoyards. She also dabbled in watercolour painting and creative writing.
Annette inherited a love of smoking and drinking from her forbears, and this coupled with her sadness on having to downsize from Watermillock to Carlisle eventually had an impact on her physical health. However, her sharp wit and acute mental faculties were with her until the last, outdoing Christopher on crosswords and impressing her children and grandchildren with her memory for plant names and historical dates.
She leaves seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A cremation and memorial service was held on March 10, attended by family and friends. She will be deeply missed, but remembered with joy. Her ashes will be interred at a future date at Greystoke.
