18th October 2020
I have now written a song about the letter collection of Hester Pengelly who was the youngest daughter of William Pengelly. Her father is probably best known for his excavation work at Kent's cavern in Torquay. Hester was married to a prominent metallurgist called Henry Forbes Julian. He was very unfortunate to lose his life on the Titanic in 1912. He was on his way to a business meeting in San Francisco and was originally booked to sail on the Olympic. This travel arrangement was transferred to the Titanic because of a coal strike. When the Titanic was sinking, after hitting an ice berg, he gave up his place on a lifeboat. Hester had been due to travel with her husand but stayed at home because she was ill with influenza.
Hester and her husband lived at a house called Redholme and there is some information about them on this website
http://www.theredholme.co.uk/redholme-history/
My song idea about Hester Pengelly came from reading an article about her in the Torbay Weekly
She inherited a collection of letters which included ones from such famous people as Nelson, Wellington, Keats and Byron. She added to this collection with her correspondence to important members of Society who had visited her house in Torquay.
Hester's Letters
She invited members of society
To accompany her for afternoon tea
In Torquay a popular resort
The replies in their letters she eagerly sought
A letter from Keats to his fiancee
In Torquay museum it was hidden away
Byron's payment for his gambling debt
An autograph hunter would love to collect
She lost her husband when he went to sea
On the Titanic so tragically
Letters of condolence were received
Some from European royalty
A letter from Keats to his fiancee
In Torquay museum it was hidden away
Byron's payment for his gambling debt
An autograph hunter would love to collect
Hester's letter collection
Brought to the curator's attention
She invited members of society
To accompany her for afternoon tea
In Torquay a popular resort
The replies in their letters she eagerly sought