BEDFORDSHIRE LOCAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION HISTORY IN BEDFORDSHIRE VOLUME 9, NO 1, AUTUMN 2020 The Association’s 27th Year www.bedfordshire-lha.org.uk Contents Articles: Sister Fanny (1836–1907): Pioneer Church of England deaconess in Bedford: STUART ANTROBUS ~ page 2 The Lancastria tragedy and Private Ronald Charles Pates: LINDA S AYRES ~ page 16 Notes from the Beds Mercury: Wild Life ~ page 20 Peter Gilman, artist: TED MARTIN ~ page 21 Society Bookshelf ~ page 23 History in Bedfordshire is published by the BEDFORDSHIRE LOCAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION www.bedfordshire-lha.org.uk For HIB: Editor: Ted Martin, 2A The Leys, Langford, Beds SG18 9RS Telephone: 01462 701096. E-mail:
[email protected] For BLHA: Secretary: Clive Makin, 32 Grange Road, Barton Le Clay, Bedford MK45 4RE: Telephone: 01582 655785 Contributions are very welcome and needed: please telephone or e-mail the Editor before sending any material. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2020 BLHA Bedfordshire Local History Association and contributors. ISSN 0968–9761 1 Sister Fanny (1836–1907) Pioneer Church of England deaconess in Bedford* Fanny Elizabeth Eagles was born in Bedford on 10 December 1836 at the family home in Harpur Place1 the youngest of three children. Her father was Ezra Eagles (1803–1865),2 solicitor, Coroner and Clerk of the Peace for the County, and his wife, Elizabeth Halfhead (1804–1866).3 Such was Fanny’s delicate state of health as an infant, she was baptised privately, and afterwards ‘received into the church’ at St Peter’s. Fanny received her first communion at her confirmation in 1852 at Holy Trinity Church, Bedford.4 She is said to have played the organ there.