Helen Bradley

The Artist, and thence by family descent

The Estate of Margaret Bradley

Their sale, Bonhams London, 29 September 2021, lot 41, where acquired by the present owner

Helen Bradley, In the Beginning Said Great-Aunt Jane, Jonathan Cape Ltd., London, 1975, p.24-5 (col. ill.)

"They're off" called John Sam'els wife Florrie, who was standing on a chair peeping through the Blind, but Martha Higgingbottom who was also peeping was away counting the neighbours who were following the Hearse. "We cant feed all that lot" said aunt Mary, who was away stealing the ham. Mother wasn't thinking about the food but great uncle Tom's sideboard. "I wonder who he's left it too" she said, but aunt Annie (who was only an aunt by marriage) said, "Jane, you've enough furniture, I could do with that sideboard". Just then Sarah's voice came from upstairs, "Everybody's making for the front gardens and I can hear a bull bellowing", So mother, aunt Mary, and aunt Frances rushed upstairs to see what was happening sure enough, Joe Wroe the Butcher was so busy watching great uncle Tom's funeral that he forgot to fasten his bulls in, so out they came and away they ran. Two were soon caught but one ran down into Lees, and the thought of it deterred several people who were coming to the house for the funeral tea which made it easier for mother and the aunts. Alas we didn't get the sideboard and the year was 1909.

Helen Layfield Bradley, 1973.